USPS Suspends Package Services to the Solomon Islands Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
USPS is suspending international airmail services to the Solomon Islands due to Covid-19 transportation cancellations and restrictions until further notice, effective December 10, 2021.
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With the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus continuing to spread globally, some countries are experiencing a new wave of infections causing governments to reimpose restrictions impacting package, mail, and postal operations.
The US Postal Service constantly monitors mail services globally and evaluates parcel volume as well as transport capacity to adjust its service standards and availability.
The postal operating conditions in the Solomon Islands and the lack of sufficient transport capacity to the country have forced USPS to suspend the following mail services:
- Priority Mail Express International (PMEI)
- Priority Mail International (PMI)
- First-Class Mail International (FCMI)
- First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS)
- International Priority Airmail (IPA) Packets
- International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Packets
- Airmail M-bags
The Postal Service advises that items deposited and processed through the International Service Center (ISC) by December 10 will be transported to the Solomon Islands, but shippers should expect major delays.
After December 10, USPS will return packages to shippers, and they will be marked as “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender.” Shippers are entitled to a full refund when service to the country is suspended.
After December 10, US Postal Service retail locations will not accept affected mail services. However, if shippers deposit packages in a mailbox, drop off packages at retail locations that have collection areas for parcels, or if they are picked up by a postal carrier, USPS will return the item to the shipper.
Returns may take a few days and tracking may become erratic when this happens.
- The Postal Service did not include USPS Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) shipments and military/diplomatic mail (APO/FPO/DPO).
- APO/FPO/DPO mail is not believed to be impacted by the service suspension as it typically is transported by the US military.
However, FedEx transports GXG shipments for USPS and FedEx issued a service suspension for the Solomon Islands. Therefore, we strongly suggest contacting your local Post Office for more information regarding GXG services to the Solomon Islands.
Please check our USPS status of international services page for more Postal Service interruptions worldwide.
We will update this post as new information becomes available.
USPS Industry Alert for the Solomon Islands
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Richard Meldner
Richard is co-founder of eSeller365. He has over 17 years of experience on eBay which includes tens of thousands of sales to buyers in over 100 countries and even has experience with eBay’s VeRO program enforcing intellectual property rights for a former employer. And for about two years Richard sold products on Amazon using Amazon FBA in the US.
To “relax” from the daily business grind, for a few weekends a year, he also works for IMSA as a professional race official.