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293 International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Service

293.1 Description

293.11 General

International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®) service is a bulk mailing system that provides fast, economical international delivery of First-Class Mail International items. The price is lower than for First-Class Mail International service. ISAL shipments are flown to the foreign destinations and entered into that country’s surface or nonpriority mail system for delivery. Separate prices are provided for International Service Center (ISC) drop shipments, presorted mail, and nonpresorted mail. Volume incentives are available through customized agreements.

293.12 Mail Sealed Against Inspection

With the exception of M-bags (see 261.23), ISAL mailpieces are sealed against inspection.

293.13 ISAL M-bags

ISAL M-bags (direct sacks of printed matter to one addressee) may be entered in conjunction with an ISAL mailing, are subject to the provisions of 260, and may be sent to all destination countries that are referenced in Exhibit 293.452. When using this method of mail preparation, the sender must complete PS Tag 155, Surface Airlift Mail, and PS Tag 158, M-bag Addressee Tag. Tags must be securely attached to the neck of the sack.

293.2 Eligibility

293.21 Qualifying Mailpieces

To qualify for ISAL service, a mailpiece must meet the First-Class Mail International characteristics as defined in 141.5. Mailpieces do not have to be of the same size and weight to qualify. Any item sent with ISAL service must conform to the weight and size limits for First-Class Mail International postcards, letters, large envelopes (flats), and packages (small packets) as described in 240.

293.22 Availability

ISAL service is available to all the foreign countries that are listed in Exhibit 293.452, which shows the price group assigned to each country.

293.23 Minimum Quantity Requirements
293.231 Minimum Quantity

All mailings must meet a minimum weight quantity of 50 pounds. To achieve the 50-pound minimum, mailings may include a combination of presort mail, worldwide nonpresort mail, or M-bags.

293.232 Presort Eligibility — Full Service

Only a direct country sack containing a minimum of 5 pounds qualifies for the presort price. All remaining mail must be prepared and paid at the worldwide nonpresort price.

293.233 Presort Eligibility — ISC Drop Shipment

Only a direct country sack containing a minimum of 5 pounds or a mixed country sack containing a minimum of 5 pounds qualifies for the presort price. All remaining mail must be prepared and paid at the worldwide nonpresort price.

293.24 Dutiable Items

Dutiable items may be sent in accordance with the applicable rules in this subchapter for each respective category of mail. Priority Mail International items, either ordinary or insured, may not be mailed with ISAL service.

293.25 Customs Forms Requirements

See 123 for customs forms requirements.

293.26 Extra Services

Extra services are not available for items sent with ISAL service.

293.3 Prices and Postage Payment Methods

293.31 Prices

ISAL service has two price options: a presort price with 15 price groups and a worldwide nonpresort price. Both options offer full-service prices for mail deposited at offices other than the drop shipment offices listed in 293.532, and drop shipment prices for mail deposited at one of the drop shipment offices. The per-piece price and per-pound price are shown in Notice 123, Price List. The per-piece price applies to each piece regardless of its weight. The per-pound price applies to the net weight (gross weight minus tare weight of sack) of the mail for the specific price group. Fractions of a pound are rounded to the next whole pound for postage calculation.

293.32 Computation of Postage

Postage is computed on PS Form 3700, Postage Statement International Mail.

293.321 Computing Worldwide Nonpresort Prices

Compute postage at the worldwide nonpresort price as follows:

  1. Multiply the number of pieces in the mailing by the applicable per-piece price.
  2. Multiply the net weight (in whole pounds) of the entire mailing by the applicable per-pound price.
  3. Add together the two totals in steps 1 and 2.
293.322 Computing Presort Prices

Compute postage at the presorted price as follows:

  1. Multiply the number of pieces in the mailing destined for countries in a specific price group by the appropriate per-piece price.
  2. Multiply the net weight (in whole pounds) of those pieces by the corresponding per-pound price.
  3. Add together the two totals in steps 1 and 2.
293.33 Postage Payment Methods
293.331 General

Postage must be paid by postage meter, permit imprint, or precanceled stamps (see DMM 604).

293.332 Postage Meter

Payments made by postage meter are subject to the following standards:

  1. Piece Price. The applicable per-piece postage shown in Notice 123, Price List, must be affixed to each mailpiece when paying with a meter. A mailer who has an ICM agreement must affix the applicable per-piece postage as set forth in the ICM agreement.
  2. Pound Price. Postage for the pound price portion must be paid either by meter stamp(s) attached to the postage statement or from the mailer’s authorized permit imprint advance deposit account.
  3. Postage Endorsement. Each piece must be legibly endorsed with the words “INTERNATIONAL SURFACE AIR LIFT” or ”ISAL.”
  4. Specifications for Endorsement. The endorsement required in 292.332c must appear on the address side of each piece and must be applied by a printing press, hand stamp, or other similar printing device. It must appear either above the name of the addressee and to the left or below the postage, or adjacent to the meter stamp in either the postal inscription slug area or ad plate area. If the postal endorsement appears in the ad plate area, no other information may appear in the ad plate. The endorsement may not be typewritten or hand-drawn. The endorsement is not considered adequate if it is included as part of a decorative design or advertisement.
  5. Unmarked Pieces. Unmarked pieces lacking the postage endorsement are subject to the First-Class Mail International single-piece price.
  6. Drop Shipment of Metered Mail. A mailer who wants to enter metered ISAL mail at a Post Office facility other than where the meter is licensed must obtain a drop shipment authorization. To obtain an authorization, the mailer must submit a written request to the postmaster at the office where the mail will be entered (see DMM 705).
293.333 Precanceled Stamps

Payments made by precanceled stamps are subject to the following standards:

  1. Piece Price. The same denomination of stamp must be affixed to every piece in the mailing.
  2. Pound Price. Additional postage is paid at the time of mailing by advance deposit account or meter stamp affixed to the back of the accompanying postage statement.
  3. Postage Endorsement. Each piece must be legibly endorsed with the words “INTERNATIONAL SURFACE AIR LIFT” or ”ISAL.”
  4. Specifications for Endorsement. The endorsement required in 293.333c must appear on the address side of each piece and must be applied by a printing press, hand stamp, or other similar printing device. It must appear either above the name of the addressee and to the left or below the postage, or adjacent to the precanceled stamp. The endorsement may not be typewritten or hand-drawn. The endorsement is not considered adequate if it is included as part of a decorative design or advertisement.
  5. Unmarked Pieces. Unmarked pieces lacking the postage endorsement are subject to the First-Class Mail International single-piece price.
293.334 Permit Imprint

Mailers may use a permit imprint for mailings that contain identical weight pieces. Any of the permit imprint formats shown in 152.44 is acceptable but must include the “INTL SURFACE AIR LIFT” rate marking. Postage is calculated as described in 293.32 and is deducted from the mailer’s advance deposit account. Permit imprints must not denote bulk mail, nonprofit, or other domestic or special mail. Mailers may use permit imprint with nonidentical weight pieces only if authorized to use postage mailing systems under DMM 705.

293.4 Mail Preparation

293.41 Addressing and Return Address

ISAL mailpieces are subject to the addressing requirements contained in 122, including the requirement of a U.S.-origin return address as defined in 122.2.

  1. Exception Canada: ISAL items destined for Canada must have the applicable alphanumeric postcode included in the delivery address. See 122.1k for the address formatting requirements that generally apply to mailpieces sent to Canada.
  2. Exception Direct Country Sacks: ISAL items in direct country sacks (see 293.461) are not subject to the interline addressing requirement that is specified in 122.1d. At the sender’s risk, the English translation of the destination post office or city name may be omitted from an address that is printed in Russian, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic, Japanese, or Chinese characters. An English translation of the country name (for example, Japan) is still required on the individual mailpieces.
293.42 Marking
293.421 Letter-Size and Flat-Size Mailpieces

The sender should mark “INTERNATIONAL SURFACE AIR LIFT” or “ISAL” on the address side of each piece. Use of bordered airmail envelopes is prohibited.

293.422 Packages (Small Packets)

Items that might be mistaken for another class of mail because of their size, weight, or appearance should be marked “LETTER-POST” on the address side.

293.43 Sealing and Packaging

Mailers must meet the following sealing and packaging standards for ISAL mail:

Mixed Country and Worldwide Nonpresort Price. All mailpieces entered at the mixed country and worldwide nonpresort price must meet the sealing and packaging methods for First-Class Mail International service under IMM 244.3 and 244.4.

Direct Country Price. Flat-size mailpieces and small packets entered at the direct country price must meet the sealing and packaging methods for First–Class Mail International service under IMM 244.3 and 244.4. Letter-size mailpieces entered at the direct country price must meet one of the following requirements:

  1. The sealing and packaging methods for First-Class Mail International service under IMM 244.3 and 244.4.
  2. The physical standards of a machinable letter under DMM 201.3.
293.44 Physical Characteristics and Requirements for All Bundles

The following standards apply:

  1. Thickness. Bundles of letter-size mail should be no thicker than approximately a handful of mail (4 to 6 inches thick). Bundles of flat-size mail may be thicker than 6 inches but must not weigh more than 11 pounds.
  2. Securing Bundles. Each bundle must be securely tied to withstand normal transit. Placing rubber bands around the length and then the girth is the preferred method of securing bundles of letter-size mail. Plastic strapping placed around the length and then the girth is the preferred method of securing bundles of flat-size mail.
  3. Separation of Bundles. Letter-size and flat-size mail must be bundled separately.
  4. Facing of Pieces. All pieces in bundles must be faced in the same direction.
293.45 Sortation
293.451 Presort Mailings — General

Follow these steps when preparing ISAL presort mail:

  1. Full Service. For presort mailings, all mail that is addressed to an individual country and that contains 5 pounds or more must be sorted into direct country bundles and sacked in direct country sacks. Mail that cannot be made up into direct country sacks must be prepared and entered at the worldwide nonpresort price.
  2. ISC Drop Shipment. For presort mailings, all mail that is addressed to an individual country and that contains 5 pounds or more must be sorted into direct country bundles and sacked in direct country sacks. All mail that is addressed to individual countries within a single price group and that contains 5 pounds or more must be bundled separately and sacked in mixed country sacks. Mail that ultimately cannot be made up into direct country sacks or mixed country sacks must be prepared and entered at the worldwide nonpresort prices.
293.452 Presorted Mail — Direct Country Bundle Label

Only direct country bundles prepared for mixed country sacks require a label (facing slip). Mailers must complete the label and place it on the address side of the top piece of each bundle in such a manner that it will not become separated from the bundle. The pressure-sensitive labels and optional endorsement lines used domestically for presort mail are prohibited for ISAL service. Bundle labels must contain the following information:

Line 1: Foreign Office of Exchange Code. (See Exhibit 293.452.)

Line 2: Country Labeling Name. (See Exhibit 293.452.)

Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location (City and State).

Example:

VIE
AUSTRIA
ABC COMPANY WASHINGTON DC

Exhibit 293.452 

ISAL Country Price Groups and Foreign Office of Exchange Codes

 

Country Labeling Name

Foreign Office of
Exchange Code

Price
Group

Albania

TIA

12

Algeria

ALG

15

Angola

LAD

15

Argentina

BUE

13

Aruba

AUA

13

Australia

SYD

9

Austria

VIE

11

Bahrain

BAH

15

Bangladesh

DAC

15

Belgium

BRU

11

Belize

BZE

13

Benin

COO

15

Bolivia

LPB

13

Brazil

SAO

13

Bulgaria

SOF

12

Burkina Faso

OUA

15

Cameroon

DLA

15

Canada

See 293.47

1

Central African Republic

BGF

15

Chile

SCL

13

China

BJS

14

Colombia

BOG

13

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

FIH

15

Costa Rica

SJO

13

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

ABJ

15

Cuba

HAV

13

Czech Republic

PRG

12

Denmark

CPH

11

Dominican Republic

SDQ

13

Ecuador

GYE

13

Egypt

CAI

15

El Salvador

SAL

13

Ethiopia

ADD

15

Fiji

NAN

14

Finland

HEL

11

France (includes Corsica)

MIM

5

French Guiana

CAY

13

Gabon

LBV

15

Germany

NIA

4

Ghana

ACC

15

Great Britain

LON

3

Greece

ATH

11

Guatemala

GUA

13

Guyana

GEO

13

Haiti

PAP

13

Honduras

TGU

13

Hong Kong

HKG

14

Hungary

BUD

12

Iceland

REK

11

India

BOM

15

Indonesia

JKT

14

Iran

THR

15

Ireland

AHE

11

Israel

TLV

11

Italy

MIL

7

Jamaica

KIN

13

Japan 1

KIX

10

KWS

10

Jordan

AMM

15

Kenya

NBO

15

Korea, Rep. of (South)

SEL

14

Kuwait

KWI

15

Lebanon

BEY

15

Liechtenstein

ZRH

11

Luxembourg

LUX

11

Madagascar

TNR

15

Malaysia

KUL

14

Mali

BKO

15

Mauritania

NKC

15

Mauritius

MRU

15

Mexico

MEX

2

Morocco

CAS

15

Mozambique

MPM

15

Netherlands

AMS

8

Netherlands Antilles

CUR 2

13

SXM 3

13

New Zealand

AKL

11

Nicaragua

MGA

13

Niger

NIM

15

Nigeria

LOS

15

Norway

OSL

11

Oman

MCT

15

Pakistan

KHI

15

Panama

PTY

13

Papua New Guinea

BOR

14

Paraguay

ASU

13

Peru

LIM

13

Philippines

MNL

14

Poland

WAW

12

Portugal

LIS

11

Qatar

DOH

15

Reunion Island

RUN

15

Romania

BUH

12

Russia

MOW

12

Saudi Arabia

DMM

15

Senegal

DKR

15

Singapore

SIN

14

Slovak Republic (Slovakia)

BTS

12

South Africa

JNB

15

Spain (includes Canary Islands)

MAD

11

Sri Lanka

CMB

15

Sudan

KRT

15

Suriname

PBM

13

Sweden

STO

11

Switzerland

ZRH

6

Syria

DAM

15

Taiwan

TPE

14

Tanzania

DAR

15

Thailand

BKK

14

Togo

LFW

15

Trinidad and Tobago

POS

13

Tunisia

TUN

15

Turkey

IST

12

Uganda

KLA

15

United Arab Emirates

DXB

15

Uruguay

MVD

13

Venezuela

CCS

13

Yemen

SAH

15

Zambia

NLA

15

Zimbabwe

HRE

15

1 To expedite handling, Japan Post has requested that U.S. shippers make the following optional separation of their ISAL mail:

Mail destined for locations in Japan with post code prefixes 52–93 should be labeled to Osaka International (KIX).

Mail destined for all other post code prefixes should be labeled to Kawasaki (KWS).

ISAL mail that is not optionally separated as specified above should be labeled to Kawasaki (KWS).

2 Includes Bonaire and Curacao.

3 Includes Saba and Saint Eustatius.

293.453 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail — Bundles

ISAL mail paid at the worldwide nonpresort price must be made into bundles as defined in 293.44. Letters and flats must be bundled separately, although nonidentical pieces may be commingled within each of these categories. Pieces that cannot be bundled because of their physical characteristics must be placed loose in the sack and do not require labeling (facing slips).

293.46 Sacking Requirements
293.461 Direct Country Sack (5 Pounds or More)

The following standards apply:

  1. General. When there are 5 pounds or more of mail addressed to the same country, the mail must be enclosed in a direct country sack. All types of mail, including letter-size bundles, flat-size bundles, and loose items, can be commingled in the same sack for each destination and counted toward the 5-pound minimum. The maximum weight of the sack and contents must not exceed 66 pounds.
  2. Direct Country Sack Tags. For each direct country sack, the mailer must do the following:
    1. Complete both sides of PS Tag 155, Surface Airlift Mail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must identify the destination country and the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 293.452. On the back of the tag, the mailer must specify the price group as listed in Exhibit 293.452.
    2. Attach PS Tag 155 to the neck of the sack.
  3. Direct Country Sack Label. Mailers who claim the ISC drop shipment price and enter their mail at an authorized drop shipment location under 293.532 are not required to prepare sack labels. Mailers who claim the full-service price must complete sack labels as follows (see Exhibit 293.461 for the list of U.S. Exchange Offices):
  4. Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code
    Line 2: Contents — DRX COUNTRY
    Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

    Example:

    ISC NEW YORK NY 003
    ISAL — DRX country
    ABC STORE ALBANY NY

Exhibit 293.461 

Labeling of ISAL Mail to Postal Service Exchange Offices (Full-service Only)

 

ISAL Acceptance Office
3-Digit ZIP Code Prefix

U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code for Line 1

005, 010089, 100212, 214268, 270297, 400418, 420427, 470477

ISC NEW YORK NY 003

006009, 298339, 341342, 344, 346347, 349352, 354399

ISC MIAMI FL 33112

424, 430469, 478516, 520528, 530532, 534535, 537551, 553567, 570577, 580588, 600620, 622631, 633641, 644658, 660662, 664681, 683693, 700701, 703708, 710714, 716731, 733741, 743799, 885

ISC CHICAGO IL 60290

590599, 800816, 820838, 840847, 893895, 897898, 937961, 970986, 988999

ISC SAN FRANCISCO CA 94013

850853, 855857, 859860, 863865, 870875, 877884, 889891, 900908, 910928, 930936

ISC LOS ANGELES CA 900

967969

P&DC HONOLULU HI 967

293.462 Mixed Country Sacks (5 Pounds or More — ISC Drop Shipment Only)

The following standards apply:

  1. General. When mail is prepared under the ISC drop shipment option, direct country bundles destined to a specific country that cannot be made up in direct country sacks must be prepared in a mixed country sack. A mixed country sack must be prepared for each price group. Only countries in price groups 11 through 15 are eligible for this price. The maximum weight of the sack and the contents must not exceed 66 pounds.
  2. Mixed Country Sack Tags. The mailer must affix PS Tag 155, Surface Airlift Mail, to mixed country sacks. PS Tag 155 identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. The mailer must specify only the price group on the back of PS Tag 155.
293.463 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sacks

The following standards apply:

  1. General. The working bundles of mixed country mail and loose items must be enclosed in sacks unless other equipment is specified by the acceptance office. Nonpresorted letter-size mail may be presented in trays if authorized by the acceptance office. The maximum weight of the sack and the contents must not exceed 66 pounds.
  2. Note: Working bundles of mixed country mail cannot be enclosed in mixed country sacks.

  3. Worldwide Nonpresort Sack Tags. Sack tags for worldwide nonpresort sacks must be labeled with PS Tag 155, Surface Airlift Mail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. The mailer must specify “WW" (for “worldwide”) on the back of PS Tag 155.
  4. Worldwide Nonpresort Sack Label. Mailers who claim the ISC drop shipment price and enter their mail at an authorized drop shipment location under 293.532 are not required to prepare sack labels. Mailers who claim the full-service price must complete sack labels as follows (see Exhibit 293.461 for the list of U.S. Exchange Offices):
  5. Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code
    Line 2: Contents WKG
    Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

    Example:

    ISC MIAMI FL 33112
    ISAL — WKG
    ABC COMPANY MIAMI FL

293.47 Canadian Sack Labeling Information

Mailers preparing direct country sack labels for Canada under 293.461c must use the labeling information as defined in Exhibit 293.47.

Exhibit 293.47 

Canadian Mail Sack Labeling Information (Full-service Only)

 

ZIP Code of Entry Post Office *

Canadian Destination

U.S.
Exchange
Office Code

U.S.
Exchange
Office (or ISC)

Optional Destination Code for Barcoded Containers

005, 010089, 100212, 214268, 270297, 400418, 420427, 470471, 476477

MONTREAL QC FWD

003

JFK

YMQ

006009, 298339, 341342, 344, 346347, 349352, 354399, 723

MONTREAL QC FWD

33112

MIA

YMQ

430469, 472475, 478516, 520528, 530532, 534535, 537551, 553567, 570577, 580588, 600620, 622631, 633641, 644658, 660662, 664681, 683693, 700701, 703708, 710714, 716722, 724731, 733741, 743816, 822831, 840847, 870875, 877885, 893, 897898

TORONTO ON FWD

60290

ORD

YTO

590599, 820821, 832838, 894895, 937961, 970986, 988999

VANCOUVER BC FWD

94013

SFO

YVR

850853, 855857, 859860, 863865, 889891, 900908, 910928, 930936

VANCOUVER BC FWD

90899

LAX

YVR

967969

VANCOUVER BC FWD

96820

HNL

YVR

* The “ZIP Code of Entry Post Office” column is relevant only for mailings claimed at the full-service price (i.e., not drop shipped at an ISC) to determine their Canadian destination and U.S. exchange office code container information.

293.5 Mail Entry and Deposit

293.51 Separation by Price Group

The mailer must specify the price group on the back of PS Tag 155 (for example, with “1” for Canada or “WW” for worldwide nonpresort) and must physically separate the sacks by price group at the time of mailing.

293.52 Full Service

Mailings must be deposited at a Post Office facility where bulk mail is accepted and where the mailer holds an advance deposit account or postage meter license.

293.53 Drop Shipment
293.531 General

To qualify for the drop shipment price, mailers must present the mail to one of the locations in 293.532. The mailer must pay postage at the drop shipment location either through an advance deposit account or postage meter license at the serving Post Office facility. As an alternative, mailers who are participating in the plant-verified drop shipment (PVDS) program may have the mail verified, accepted, and paid for at the mailer’s plant or at the origin Post Office facility serving the mailer’s plant if authorized under DMM 705. PVDS mail must be transported by the mailer to the drop shipment location, and the mail must be accompanied by PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance.

293.532 Drop Shipment Locations

Drop shipments are available through the offices noted in Exhibit 293.532.

Note: California, Illinois, and New York locations accept both “cleared” mail (mail that has been previously presented and paid for at a BMEU) and “uncleared” mail (mail that has not been previously presented and paid for at a BMEU). For Florida locations, refer to footnotes 1 and 2 for special requirements.

Exhibit 293.532 

ISAL Drop Shipment Locations

 

State

Facility

California

LOS ANGELES ISC
US POSTAL SERVICE
5800 w century blvd
los angeles ca 90009-9998

SAN FRANCISCO ISC
US POSTAL SERVICE
660 W FIELD RD
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94128-3161

Florida

MIAMI ISC 1
US POSTAL SERVICE
11698 NW 25TH ST
MIAMI FL 33112-9997

MIAMI PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION CTR 2
US POSTAL SERVICE
2200 NW 72ND AVE
MIAMI FL 33152-9997

Illinois

JT WEEKER ISC
US POSTAL SERVICE
11600 W IRVING PARK RD
CHICAGO IL 60666-9998

New York

JOHN F KENNEDY AIRPORT MAIL CTR
US POSTAL SERVICE
JOHN F KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BLDG 250
JAMAICA NY 11430-9998

 

 


Note: This facility accepts cleared and uncleared ISAL mail.For drop shipment locations of IPA mail, refer to 292.532.




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