USPS is Stupid

[pushbrk 13,188]

That address smells like the non-courier address.

When you send it with signature confirmation, it always needs to go to the 'courier address', as a human is required to sign something. UPS, Fedex, DHL, all use this same courier address - and I must assume that the address used was NOT the courier address.

Which of course, adds to the time. Some people have had to wait up to a week for the package to actually be signed for, as there is no human at the 'non courier address' to sign for things in real time. The notices are gathered up, over a weeks time, then the packages are received and signed for.

Sorry.

(I could be wrong, though, get it totally backwards on the RIGHT ADDRESS for ya).

The courier address is not needed for Express mail. Express mail is delivered to PO Boxes all the time.

I recommend sending it Priority Certified mail. Takes 2-3 days, you get signature confirmation and they don't deliver it on the weekend.

A big waste of money and time. It's going to a PO Box that gets thousands of pieces of mail a day. No need to make them sign for it, really.

[Darnell 8,479]

The courier address is not needed for Express mail. Express mail is delivered to PO Boxes all the time.

Sorry, push - many ppl think the same way you do, about this - and then discover that the package was delayed a a week at NVC, because of the signature confirmation problem, where it did not get delivered to the non-courier address on time.

In fact, the Courier Address IS needed for Express Mail, IF a signature is required on the package.

Sorry.

[Sunny4567 0]

I am really, really sorry that your wife went through that nightmare.

Something else must have been up with her? Did you try talking to a lawyer?

I have just in the last 19 months gone through getting Canadian Permanent Residency for myself

and the Visa for my Canadian husband to move back to the US with me.

I can say without a doubt the Canadian system was a million times easier and much more pleasant.

I had to hire a lawyer for the US Visa, but I was able to navigate the Canadian PR process alone.

The website is so user friendly for Canadian Immigration but try to navigate the US site!

My Canadian interview was no more than a formality in Oshawa with a nice older woman asking me

three questions and then saying "Welcome to Canada." I also entered Canada as a "visitor" and stayed

to marry my husband and live here with one simple extension to my visitor visa. Do this in the US and it is

considered FRAUD. You can not enter as a visitor in the US and marry a US citizen with out getting in trouble.

Canada didn't even question my original entry. For the US interview we had to go through

a harrowing process in Montreal where we were refused the Visa because I was not "domiciled" in the US.

I thought they would want me to actually be with my husband. I was very mistaken.

The US process was much, much more expensive and stressful by 100!

So anyway, that is just my experience.

Trust me when I tell you that the Canadian process is just as screwed up. My wife tried to get her Permanent Residency reinstated and they jerked her around for 6 months (this particular process was only supposed to take 30 days) only to deny her in the end after making her go to to 3 separate interviews where all they did was go over her answers to their questions and have her sign a paper that the answers were correct. A week later, they gave her orders to leave the country and told her if she didn't within 30 days they would issue a warrant for her arrest. She was treated like a common criminal. Then they turned around and told her if she wanted to come back, to just go to the States for one day and then turn around and come back!! HELLO! Talk about contradicting yourself.

When she was at Canada immigration getting a Record of Departure, the Border Patrol kept her there for 45 minutes trying to figure out why Canada Immigration had refused her reinstatement. She finally told them she did not want to contest it, she just wanted to leave.

The American process may seem "retarded", but it has the checks and balances for a reason and I don't appreciate you insulting the U.S.

Doesn't matter if it's the U.S. or Canada, it's no walk in the park.

[pushbrk 13,188]

Sorry, push - many ppl think the same way you do, about this - and then discover that the package was delayed a a week at NVC, because of the signature confirmation problem, where it did not get delivered to the non-courier address on time.

In fact, the Courier Address IS needed for Express Mail, IF a signature is required on the package.

Sorry.

I repeat. Express Mail is delivered to PO Boxes. A notice is left and the recipient signs when they pick up the package, just like if you aren't home when an Express Mail arrives. I agree that to require a signature will usually cost you the day you gained by using Express vs Priority but a PO Box is fine.

I expect you'll see the OP back indicating the package was signed for today.

Courier addresses are for couriers and must be used because ONLY USPS is allowed to deliver to a PO Box.

The only overnight delivery to mailboxes and P.O. Boxes.

http://www.usps.com/shipping/expressmail.htm

Edited April 27, 2010 by pushbrk

[MRStee 19]

I expect you'll see they signed for it today. Avoiding signature issues is why I always recommend Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. It costs a lot less, requires no signature and what's an extra day in a months long process anyway.

I agree with you on this. We express mailed ours USPS with a delivery confirmation. No signature. You are able to track the number on the USPS website. However, I tried to get it back about an hour later because I thought I had made the cashier's check out to the wrong people. To my surprise it was already gone. We mailed it on a Friday and they received it in Chicago on a Sunday. So in my case, USPS worked great!

Sorry for your inconvience.

[CANDY PANTS 1]

I'm sorry to hear your wife had to endure that nonsense. I can't even imagine!!! You are right, no one system is better than the other. This process is definitely no walk in the park!

Trust me when I tell you that the Canadian process is just as screwed up. My wife tried to get her Permanent Residency reinstated and they jerked her around for 6 months (this particular process was only supposed to take 30 days) only to deny her in the end after making her go to to 3 separate interviews where all they did was go over her answers to their questions and have her sign a paper that the answers were correct. A week later, they gave her orders to leave the country and told her if she didn't within 30 days they would issue a warrant for her arrest. She was treated like a common criminal. Then they turned around and told her if she wanted to come back, to just go to the States for one day and then turn around and come back!! HELLO! Talk about contradicting yourself.

When she was at Canada immigration getting a Record of Departure, the Border Patrol kept her there for 45 minutes trying to figure out why Canada Immigration had refused her reinstatement. She finally told them she did not want to contest it, she just wanted to leave.

The American process may seem "retarded", but it has the checks and balances for a reason and I don't appreciate you insulting the U.S.

Doesn't matter if it's the U.S. or Canada, it's no walk in the park.

[CANDY PANTS 1]

I figured USPS express was similar to FedEx or something but apparently not. I should've known that it's just like Canada Post's express delivery LOL. USCIS website states the special address for "courier/express". Would be nice if it just said courier.

Either way, the package was picked up or delivered and signed for Monday morning...the system wasn't updated accordingly until this morning.

So YAY they got it Monday morning, the day we wanted them to get it. I don't know what days they forward the info to the Vermont Service Centre, or if they have a cut-off (I'm sure they do) but it's nice to know it's there and not a few days later than desired....I guess having it there early in the week was more for a sense of reassurance than anything.

Edited April 27, 2010 by buttadee

[OBX 51]

I figured USPS express was similar to FedEx or something but apparently not. I should've known that it's just like Canada Post's express delivery LOL. USCIS website states the special address for "courier/express". Would be nice if it just said courier.

Either way, the package was picked up or delivered and signed for Monday morning...the system wasn't updated accordingly until this morning.

So YAY they got it Monday morning, the day we wanted them to get it. I don't know what days they forward the info to the Vermont Service Centre, or if they have a cut-off (I'm sure they do) but it's nice to know it's there and not a few days later than desired....I guess having it there early in the week was more for a sense of reassurance than anything.

Glad it all worked out. Good luck the rest of the way!

[CANDY PANTS 1]

YAY CANADA! lol

I agree with you though...it does seem like the US doesn't promote marital unions LOL

I am really, really sorry that your wife went through that nightmare.

Something else must have been up with her? Did you try talking to a lawyer?

I have just in the last 19 months gone through getting Canadian Permanent Residency for myself

and the Visa for my Canadian husband to move back to the US with me.

I can say without a doubt the Canadian system was a million times easier and much more pleasant.

I had to hire a lawyer for the US Visa, but I was able to navigate the Canadian PR process alone.

The website is so user friendly for Canadian Immigration but try to navigate the US site!

My Canadian interview was no more than a formality in Oshawa with a nice older woman asking me

three questions and then saying "Welcome to Canada." I also entered Canada as a "visitor" and stayed

to marry my husband and live here with one simple extension to my visitor visa. Do this in the US and it is

considered FRAUD. You can not enter as a visitor in the US and marry a US citizen with out getting in trouble.

Canada didn't even question my original entry. For the US interview we had to go through

a harrowing process in Montreal where we were refused the Visa because I was not "domiciled" in the US.

I thought they would want me to actually be with my husband. I was very mistaken.

The US process was much, much more expensive and stressful by 100!

So anyway, that is just my experience.

[Ryan_and_Priscy 16]

Hubby sent the package to:

USCIS Lockbox

Attn: SAI-130

131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60603-5517

Hopefully the system does suck and they reattempted delivery today considering the guarantee was for today.

Thanks for letting me vent...and for the replies that made me laugh and gave a positive outlook.

Never trust using USPS services, they are lazy! Better use UPS, it is more expensive (but not that much) and works on time. I sent every package certified, so when it was received, I got a call letting me know about that. At my in-laws church, there is a a friend who is immigrant lawyer, she recommends never use USPS. At USCIS offices, when they get the bunch of letters and packages, if they are not certified, they don´t look at them but put them in other place to be opened after 2 or 3 months later (that´s why many people wander why they haven´t heard anything back from their application!).

Hope yours will be delivered on time!

[Petition2252 7]

So my husband finally sends the petition express to Chicago on Friday with instructions to have it delivered today because the office will be closed on Saturday...and sure enough they attempted delivery on SATURDAY and left a notice for pick-up. I have a gut feeling they will not go to pick it up at the post office!

And because it was an express delivery, I can't reschedule online....my husband has to call his local number before 5pm (in which he can't today as he's working) to have it redelivered. The ONLY bonus is a refund of the money because of USPS' error. But who cares so much about the money....the point of expressing it and paying more is to get it there FAST AND SECURE!

I'm already fed-up with the immigration process and it's ONLY JUST BEGUN! I am seriously considering sponsoring my husband to live in Canada. American organizations are retarded and the immigration guidelines are as well.

I just expressed mine. If you pay online you can check the option NO SATURDAY DELIVERY. Although since I mailed mine today, I won't have to worry about that problem.

But you bring up a good point. If you need to express mail something, either

1. Send at the end of the day (or last collection time) on Saturday so it arrives Monday,
2. Check DON'T DELIVER ON SATURDAY (and hope they are smart enough to figure it out), or
3. Send it Priority on Friday (if you live far enough away, check USPS Delivery Estimation First) so it arrives 2nd day on Monday or Tuesday.

--Edit--

Ha, I just realized something. My advice applies to Domestic Mail. Not International.

For International I guess you could use UPS. I know they don't deliver on Saturdays, then again they might be slower (or more expensive for faster service).

Edited April 28, 2010 by Matthew G