Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USPS has announced several service delays or outages that may effect your ability to create shipments or match estimated days to delivery.
Below we've compiled information on service alerts that may affect you. This information may change as the situation evolves. For the most recent information, please review the USPS Service Alerts page.
USPS is suspending all services into Hong Kong starting January 14th, 2022. Both commercial passenger flights and cargo flights from the USA to Hong Kong are banned for an initial period of 2 weeks.
ePost Global has alternative options for delivery to Hong Kong - please contact your sales representative or your customer service representative for further information.
USPS is suspending Priority Mail International services to China starting January 28th, 2022.
For already deposited PMI items entered prior to 1/28/22, the Postal Service will transport to destination but delays are to be expected. For deposited PMI items entered on or after 1/28/22, the Postal Service will endorse the items as "Mail Service Suspended —Return to Sender" and place them in the mail stream for return to sender.
USPS will resume the acceptance of some package services to New Zealand starting Friday, January 14th.
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First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS)
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Commercial ePacket (CeP)
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International Priority Airmail (IPA) Packets
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International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Packets
However, the following services to New Zealand will remain suspended until further notice:
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Priority Mail International (PMI)
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Airmail M-Bags
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International Priority Airmail (IPA) M-Bags
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International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) M-Bags
Updated January 19, 2022.
The USPS continues to temporarily suspend outbound deliveries to countries that are no longer able to process or deliver shipments originating from the United States due to service disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If attempting to create a USPS label in ShipStation to one of the affected countries, you will see an error: "Invalid rate. Mail class ‘PriorityMailInternational’ is not available for the destination country."
This information may change as the situation evolves. For the most recent information, including the list of counties experiencing disruptions, please review the USPS International Service Disruptions page.
These disruptions affect the following services:
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Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI)
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Priority Mail International® (PMI)
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First-Class Mail International® (FCMI)
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First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®)
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International Priority Airmail® (IPA®)
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International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®)
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M-Bag®
For already deposited items, other than GXG, Postal Service employees will endorse them “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender” and then place them in the mail stream for return.
For any returned item bearing a customs form, the Postal Service will, upon request, refund postage and fees on mail returned due to the suspension of service.
For all other returned items not bearing a customs declarations form, the Postal Service will, upon request, refund postage and fees on mail returned due to the suspension of service, or the sender may re-mail them with the existing postage once service has been restored. When re-mailing under this option, customers must cross out the markings “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender.”
Military and Diplomatic Mail
Service suspensions to a particular country do not affect delivery of military and diplomatic mail, except military addresses noted on the USPS International Service Disruptions page.