Each item must be fully prepaid to ensure prompt dispatch and to avoid assessment of charges against the addressee. For the treatment of shortpaid and unpaid mail, see 420.
To determine single-piece weight in any mailing at single-piece prices, or in a bulk price mailing of nonidentical-weight pieces, weigh each piece individually. To determine single-piece weight in any other bulk or presort price mailing of identical-weight pieces (e.g., IPA or ISAL), weigh a sample group of at least 10 randomly selected pieces and divide the total sample weight by the number of pieces in the sample. Express all single-piece weights in decimal pounds rounded off to four decimal places.
For these standards:
- Round off requires increasing by 1 the last digit to be kept if the digit to its right, which is not to be kept, is 5 or greater. If that digit is 4 or less, the last digit kept is unchanged (e.g., 3.3761 rounded off to two decimal places is 3.38, whereas 3.3741 is 3.37).
- Round up requires increasing by 1 the last digit to be kept if there are any digits to its right, regardless of value (e.g., rounding up either 3.3701 or 3.3791 to two decimal places yields 3.38).
The following types of stamps may be used to pay for postage and fees for extra services listed under chapter 3 for all single-piece international mail transactions:
- Denominated postage stamps: A denominated postage stamp’s value is based on the dollar amount that is printed on the stamp. Any denominated postage stamp issued by the United States, unless listed in DMM 604.1.3, is valid for postage.
- Nondenominated postage stamps (excludes precanceled stamps under 152.33): A nondenominated postage stamp’s value is linked to its domestic postage issue price (e.g., the Antique Toys stamp, issued on June 7, 2002, has a postage value of 37 cents). A complete listing of nondenominated postage stamps is available in Quick Service Guide (QSG) 604a found online at pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/qsg300/q604a.pdf.
- Nondenominated semi-postal stamps: Nondenominated semi-postal stamps (e.g., Stop Family Violence or Breast Cancer Research) are sold at a price that exceeds the postage value of the stamp, with the amount exceeding postage going to the stated cause. Only their value (at the time of purchase) may be used to pay postage. A complete listing of these semi-postal stamps and their issue prices are available in QSG 604a found online at pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/qsg300/q604a.pdf.
- Forever Stamps (domestic): A domestic Forever stamp’s value is linked to the domestic First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce machinable letter price that is in effect on the day of use (mailing) regardless of when the stamp is purchased and regardless of how prices may change in the future.
- Global Forever Stamps: A Global Forever stamp’s value is linked to the First-Class Mail International single-piece 1-ounce machinable letter price that is in effect on the day of use (mailing) regardless of when the stamp is purchased and regardless of how prices may change in the future. Global Forever stamps can be used to mail a postcard or 1–ounce machinable letter-size mailpiece anywhere in the world. In addition, mailers may use a Global Forever stamp as postage for any type of single-piece international or domestic mailpiece. Global Forever stamps are round and always bear the words “Global Forever.”
Because international postage prices are always higher than the comparable domestic postage prices, mailers who affix a single nondenominated postage stamp (see 152.31b), a single nondenominated semi-postal stamp (see 152.31c), a single domestic Forever stamp (see 152.31d), or a single Forever Print-on-Demand Indicia label (see 152.4) to their outbound mailpieces must add additional postage to comply with the international price schedule.
Except for the “Nonprofit Org.” variant, mailers may use precanceled stamps for only IPA mailings (see 293.333) and ISAL mailings (see 293.333). The same conditions that are applicable to domestic mail under DMM 604 apply.
Postage meter imprints, postage validation imprint (PVI) labels, Forever Print-on-Demand Indicia labels, and PC Postage imprints are collectively identified as “postage evidencing systems.” A postage evidencing system is a device or system of components that a customer uses to print evidence that postage required for mailing has been paid. Postage evidencing systems print indicia, such as meter imprints or information-based indicia (IBI), to indicate postage payment. Mailers may print these indicia directly on a mailpiece or on a label that is affixed to a mailpiece to pay postage and fees for extra services (see chapter 3) for all single-piece mail transactions. In addition, postage meters may also be used to pay for the “per piece price” portion of IPA (see 292) and ISAL (see 293) mailings. For additional information, including a listing of authorized postage meter and PC Postage providers, see DMM 604.4.
Mailers may use the USPS-produced Forever Print-on-Demand Indicia labels, which bear an information-based indicia (IBI) and the word “Forever,” in the same way as the Forever stamp described in 152.31d.
Postage may be paid by permit imprint, subject to the standards in DMM 124, 604, and 705. When a customer pays a permit imprint application fee, the Postal Service accepts that fee for international outbound and/or domestic mailings. Postage charges are computed on PS Form 3700. This postage payment method may be used for postage and extra service fees for the following services:
- Global Express Guaranteed service prepared under 213.8.
- Priority Mail Express International service prepared under 223.221.
- Priority Mail International service.
- First-Class Mail International service.
- First-Class Package International Service.
- International Priority Airmail (IPA) service.
- International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) service.
Mail must be deposited and accepted at the Post Office that issued the permit, at a time and place designated by the postmaster, except as otherwise provided for drop shipments.
For Global Express Guaranteed, Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, and First-Class Package International Service items, a mailer may use a permit imprint for international items addressed to recipients in foreign countries as follows:
- The minimum for items from one mail class is 200 pieces or 50 pounds. The mailer must submit the appropriate postage statement for the mail class.
Note: The mailer may submit mailings for more than just one mail class, but the mailing for each mail class must meet the minimum of 200 pieces or 50 pounds, and the mailer must submit a postage statement for each mail class. If a mailing for a mail class does not meet the minimum requirements, the mailer may qualify to use a permit imprint for international items under items 152.631b or 152.631c.
- If the mailer fails to meet the minimum requirement for one mail class (see 152.631a), the mailer may submit items from multiple mail classes totaling at least 200 pieces or 50 pounds combined from the various mail classes. The mailer must physically separate the items by mail class and submit a separate postage statement for each mail class.
- If the mailer fails to meet the minimum requirement for either one mail class (see 152.631a) or multiple mail classes (see 152.631b), the mailer may submit international permit imprint mailing items with any qualifying domestic permit imprint mailing under DMM 604 or 705, or with any qualifying international permit imprint mailing under 152.632 or 152.633 with no minimum quantity requirement. The mailer must physically separate the items by mail class, must submit a separate postage statement for each mail class, and must present both the international permit imprint mailing and the qualifying domestic permit imprint mailing at the same time.
For First-Class Mail International items, a mailer may use a permit imprint for international items addressed to recipients in foreign countries only when a mailing contains a minimum of 200 pieces or 50 pounds of First-Class Mail International service items. In contrast to 152.631b, the mailer may not combine First-Class Mail International service items with items from other international mail classes, and in contrast to 152.631c, the mailer may not combine First-Class Mail International service items with domestic mail classes to reach the minimum quantity requirement.
Note: As discussed in 152.631c, a mailer who meets the minimum requirements for First-Class Mail International service items may combine with that mailing other permit imprint mailings for Global Express Guaranteed, Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, or First-Class Package International Service items. The mailer must physically separate the items by mail class and submit a separate postage statement for each mail class.
See 292.23 and 293.23 for the minimum quantity requirements that govern the entry of International Priority Airmail (IPA) items and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) items, respectively.
Note: As discussed in 152.631c, a mailer who meets the minimum requirements for IPA or ISAL items may combine with that mailing other permit imprint mailings for Global Express Guaranteed, Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, or First-Class Package International Service items. The mailer must physically separate the items by mail class and submit a separate postage statement for each mail class.
For M-bag mailings (see 260), no minimum quantity requirement applies.
Each mailpiece sent under this payment method must bear a permit imprint indicia showing that postage is paid. Permit imprint indicia must be prepared in one of the formats shown in Exhibit 152.64. No variations or additions — such as Bulk Rate, Media Mail, Presorted Standard, Enhanced Carrier Route Sort, Automation Rate, Nonprofit Organization, or Bound Printed Matter — are allowed. Mailpieces may bear a company permit imprint, in which the exact name of the company or individual holding the permit is shown in the indicium in place of the city, state, and permit number. The mailer may substitute the abbreviation “INTL” in place of “INTERNATIONAL” in any of the indicia formats in Exhibit 152.64. Mailings prepared with a company permit imprint must comply with the standards in DMM 604.5.3.9.
Exhibit 152.64 (p. 1)
Indicia Formats
Exhibit 152.64 (p. 2)
Indicia Formats
Exhibit 152.64 (p. 3)
Indicia Formats
Exhibit 152.64 (p. 4)
Indicia Formats
