Mailing deadlines for the holidays

As the “Official Shipper of the Holidays,” the United States Postal Service today released the suggested mail-by dates to ensure packages, cards, and letters reach their intended destination before the 2011 celebrations begin.

Dates are provided as a guide for dropping holiday wishes into the mail. Customers who use the United States Postal Service as their “Official Shipper of the Holidays” can trust the Postal Service will provide reliable, trusted and secure delivery at home or abroad.

Postmarking for domestic mail — mailed from and delivered within the U.S. — and international mail destined for overseas should occur by:

Domestic Mail Product / Mail-by Date
First-Class Mail / Dec. 20
Priority Mail / Dec. 21
Express Mail / Dec. 22
Parcel Post / Dec. 15
DNDC Drop Ship / Dec. 19
DDU Drop Ship / Dec. 22

International Mail Addressed To / Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG)1 / Express Mail® Inter-national (EMS)2 / Priority Mail® Inter-national (PMI)3 / First-Class Mail®

Africa / Dec-20 / Dec-10 / Dec-2 / Dec-2

Asia/Pacific Rim / Dec-19 / Dec-15 / Dec-9 / Dec-9

Australia/New Zealand / Dec-19 / Dec-15 / Dec-9 / Dec-9

Canada / Dec-21 / Dec-16 / Dec-12 / Dec-9

Caribbean / Dec-20 / Dec-15 / Dec-12 / Dec-9

Central & South America / Dec-20 / Dec-10 / Dec-2 / Dec-2

Mexico / Dec-21 / Dec-15 / Dec-9 / Dec-9

Europe / Dec-20 / Dec-15 / Dec-12 / Dec-9

Middle East / Dec-20 / Dec-15 / Dec-12 / Dec-9

GXG Notes: 1) Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance. 2) Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outside major cities. 3) Last day to ship to Afghanistan is Dec 19 and Iraq is Dec 16.

“We suggest holiday shippers both in and outside the country use one of our Priority Mail products to send gifts and good wishes,” said Gary Reblin, vice president Domestic Products. “The Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes come in a variety of sizes and are always free. Remember — ‘if it fits it ships’ for a low flat rate.”

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.