Recent incidents involving international cargo have caused the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to heighten security measures safeguarding air transport. These directives apply to U.S. bound international mail and cargo. Currently, mail delivered from the U.S. to other countries is handled under normal operating conditions; several exceptions became effective on Jan. 27, 2011. Please check the USPS International Country Service Updates on www.usps.com.


Service Updates

Politics and economics can change global mailing conditions.

Information on Inbound International Mail
Due to recent incidents involving international cargo, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) instituted heightened security measures to safeguard air transport. These directives apply to U.S. bound international mail and cargo.

The U.S. Postal Service is working with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the designated postal operators of its member countries to provide support and assistance in adhering to these TSA directives.

In December 2010, the holiday surge in international mail volume to the U.S., along with severe weather conditions in many parts of Europe and limited availability of air transport, contributed to widespread delays in transit times for international mail bound for the U.S. In addition, airlines operating at major air transit hubs have been unable to provide mail transit services for postal packets and parcels.

Since that time, a world-wide effort among UPU members and postal operators to meet the requirements of the new TSA directives has resulted in improvements in transit times for international mail bound for the U.S.

However, international packages from some points outside the U.S. may be subject to delays of several days above normal transit times as foreign postal operators continue to make progress in implementing the necessary adjustments to their operations. The U.S. Postal Service regrets any inconvenience these temporary increases in transit times may create for its customers.

Currently, mail from the United States to all countries is being handled under normal operating conditions, with these exceptions (Effective 2/3/2011):

China is on the list, nuff said...

Basically I talked to one of the guys involved in this game and he said it's not just due to weather conditions but 'security' issues also, so packs can be delayed as long as possible without just cause......

Just be careful guys.

http://www.usps.com/international/serviceupdates.htm