US Postal Information
On this page we learn about the mailing of letters in the United States. First class airmail postcards and letters (if not oversized, or over one ounce/28.5 grams) are $0.72 to Canada and Mexico and $0.94 elsewhere. All locations with a USPS zip code are considered domestic, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, U.S. Navy ships at sea, etc. Domestic postcards are $0.27, and small letters up to an ounce are $0.42. If you put a solid object like a coin or keys in an envelope, you'll pay a surcharge. Rates change annually in mid-May of each year.
You can receive mail sent both domestically and from abroad by having it addressed to you as "General Delivery." In other countries, this is often called Poste Restante. There is no charge for this service. You just go to the main post office, wait in line, and they will give you your mail after showing ID such as a passport.
John Doe
General Delivery
Seattle, Washington 98101-9999
U.S.A.
The last four digits of the ZIP (postal) Code for General Delivery is always '9999'. If the city is large enough to have multiple post offices, only one (usually in the center of downtown) will have the General Delivery service. This means, for example, if you're staying in the Green Lake district of Seattle (a few miles north of downtown), you cannot receive your mail at the Green Lake Post Office, and must travel downtown to get it. On the other hand, if you're completely outside of the city of Seattle, and in a smaller town with only one post office, you can have it sent there. UPS and FedEx also have a "Hold for Pickup" option.
Information on this page may be printed out for your use when you visit USA.
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