Go Global This Spring -- Tips From USPS That Make It Easy

Postmaster Rick Brandon says the U.S. Postal Service is making it easier to go global with international mail.  And that's true whether you're doing business overseas or need to reach relatives and friends outside the United States and its territories.

International mail products have had a name change.  The new names, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, Priority Mail International and First-Class Mail International, have been chosen to mirror their domestic counterparts Priority Mail and Express Mail.

• Forget about what packaging to choose -- now you can use the same packaging for domestic and international shipping.
• It gets even better.  Skip the trip to the Post Office and reach USPS international mail products online at http://www.usps.com/.  You'll find you can obtain postage discounts and popular flat-rate shipping options using Click-N-Ship.
• Use Click-N-Ship to send packages to service members overseas.  When available, Click-N-ship databases will automatically standardize APO/FPO addresses.  For more information on sending letters and packages to military members, go to http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/.
• Send a gift of money to friends or family in participating countries using Sure Money (DineroSeguro): Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru.  It takes just 15 minutes.  For more information, call toll free: 888-368-4669.

Apply for a new passport, or renew an expired one, at thousands of Post Offices.  To find the location of participating Post Office closest to you, log on to http://www.usps.com/welcome.htm?from=global&page=0001home2 and click on Locate Post Office.  Under Options, select Passport Application Services.  Due to unprecedented demand, the State Department recommends travelers allow 10 weeks for their passport applications to be processed, with expedited processing available at an extra charge for service in 4 weeks or less.