POSTAL SERVICE

In Puerto Rico, mail is sent through the United States Postal Service at the same rates as the US mainland. Post offices offer an affordable, reliable, and trusted service. Mail is delivered every day, except Sundays and holidays. There are post offices located in various parts of the city. Also, there are blue mailboxes on street corners in residential neighborhoods and commercial areas. These mailboxes have the painted emblem of the post office and can be used to send any package that weighs less than 16 ounces.

The Río Piedras Post Office

The closest post office to the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus is located on Calle Arzuaga 112 in Río Piedras. The phone number of the Río Piedras Post Office is (787) 767-6494.

Post Office Hours

Post offices are closed on Sundays and certain holidays. To find post office addresses, see the mail information page (gray border) in your telephone book’s White Pages. For more information call 1-800-275-8777. You can also visit the Postal Service website at http://www.usps.com/ .

Mail Collection

Mail collection hours vary for each post office and mailbox. Collection times appear in small signs attached to mailboxes and near mail slots at the post office.

Postal Code

The postal code is the number in the address that follows the two-letter abbreviation of the state. This code helps the post office organize mail more quickly. Information on codes in the San Juan area can be found in the pages with gray borders in your telephone book’s White Pages. A list of postal codes for other cities can be found in the Zip Code Directory, which is available in all post offices, by telephone (1-800-25-8777), and on the Postal System’s website: http://www.usps.com

Additional Information

• Mail is delivered to residences and post office boxes every day, except Sunday and holidays.
  
• It is possible to rent post office boxes in most post offices
• Apartment mailboxes should be clearly marked with your name. If you live in a house, be sure that your house number appears on the mailbox or the mailbox post.
  
• If you leave the city, the post office can hold your mail for a maximum of 30 days. To use this service, complete the appropriate form in your post office branch.
  
• When you change addresses, ask for the information packet offered by the post office at your local branch or by telephone (1-800-275-8777).
  
• If you receive mail for a former resident of your house, you should write the word “moved” on the envelope and return it to the mailbox, so that the mail carrier may collect it. If you know the person’s address, write it on the envelope as well.
  
• There is self-service mailing in the vestibules of some post offices and in some shopping malls.
  
• The post office has a prepaid card to pay for mail services. It is called the Liberty Cash card.

How to Write Addresses on Envelopes

The following should appear on each piece of mail:

• The name and address of the sender should appear in the upper left-hand corner.
• The address to which the mail is being sent should be printed in the following order:
• first line: name of the recipient
• second line: street address ( 124 Columbus Ave.)
• third line: town or city and zip code ( San Juan, PR 00925)
• Last line: country, if it will be sent outside of the United States ( Venezuela, South America)

Postage Stamps

Stamps are sold in post offices and in some supermarkets. They can also be purchased by mail with Form 3227. This form can be obtained from the post office, or you can request one from your mail carrier. Stamps can also be purchased by calling 1-800-782-6724 (toll free).

Mail From Other Countries

All packages from foreign countries will be sent through United States Customs to be reviewed. If you must pay tariffs on the package, a customs officer will attach a form indicating the amount due. Payment for these tariffs, plus a customs processing charge of $5.00 must be paid at the post office, which will also add a charge for this service. For more information, visit the US Customs Service website at www.customs.gov.

How to Mail Letters and Packages

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has an excellent pamphlet titled, A Consumer's Guide to Postal Services and Products, which contains information about its services. You can also find more information on their website, http://www.usps.com/.

Below is information about sending mail:

• Domestic and international mail is charged according to weight and mailing category.
  
• Packages and letters sent Priority or first class can be sent registered or certified to keep documentation on its shipment and receipt.
  
• International mail can be sent by land or air. To mail packages, you must use a green customs declaration form, which can be found in any post office.
  
• For proof of shipment by international mail, use registered mail.
  
• To send correspondence, you can put stamped addressed envelops in your home mailbox. Lift the red flag so that the mail carrier knows that there is mail to collect.

Passports

Post offices are in charge of distributing United States passport application forms and sending them to the State Department. The form and list of requirements can be obtained in any post office. You should file in person at the post offices that send the forms. (This service is not available in all post offices.) To avoid additional charges, you should apply for the passport at least six weeks in advance.

There are packaging businesses and mailing stores that sell stamps and also mail packages. These stores have an additional charge for these services. Mailing stores can be found in the Yellow Pages of the phone book under the listing, “Packaging.”

Other Mailing Services

Other companies that offer worldwide service for mailing packages and Express mail are:

• United Parcel Services (UPS)
  
• Federal Express (FedEx)
  
• DHL Worldwide Express (DHL)

These companies appear in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book under “Air Cargo & Package Express Service.”

Unsolicited Mail ( Junk Mail)

You will receive a large quantity of mail with commercial advertising, which is also called direct-mail advertising or unsolicited mail.

• To reduce the amount of junk mail, contact the companies directly and ask them to remove your name from their mailing lists.
  
• When you order magazines and catalogs, or when you renew your subscription, include a note that says that you only want to have your name on the “in house” list and you do not want your name sold to other companies.
  
• Direct mail forms sometimes have a box that says “opt out.” When you mark this box, the mail-order company cannot sell information about you to other companies.
  
• When you make donations, be sure to request that your name is not sent to other charities.

To remove your name from most national mailing lists, write to the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Services, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008. Send your full name and address. This will end unsolicited mail from national companies for a period of five years.

Money Orders

Most post offices sell money orders. For more information, call toll-free 1-888-368-4669. Money orders should be purchased with cash or with a Liberty Cash card. They can also be purchased in supermarkets and drug stores.

Telegrams

In the United States, Western Union sends cablegrams to all parts of the world and telegrams within the United States. These services can be charged to a credit card or, in some cases, added to your telephone bill.

It is also possible to sent money to all parts of the world from the United States and charge it to a credit card. For more information, call Western Union at 1-800-325-6000 or visit their website at www.westernunion.com.