To begin an international inquiry, which could result in an international claim, please visit File an International Claim. For more information on the processes, continue using this article.

• Enter the item's tracking number into USPS Tracking® to find out or 
• Match your tracking number with the sample numbers listed below: 

  SAMPLE NUMBER	MAIL TYPE OR SERVICE
  EC 000 000 000 US	Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI)
  EC 000 000 000 US	Priority Mail Express International with Money-Back Guarantee (PMEI-DC)
  CP 000 000 000 US	Priority Mail International® (PMI)
  RA 000 000 000 US	Registered Mail® Service International
  LX 000 000 000 US	First-Class Mail International® Service (FCMI)
  LX 000 000 000 US	First Class Package International Service® (FCPIS)
  X and 0 are in place to represent different possible letters and numbers.

The item:

• Is damaged, lost, or missing contents
• Is not insured and does not have indemnity (First Class Mail International Service or First Class Package International Service)

US Sender

We apologize, but USPS does not accept inquiries for uninsured items and items without indemnity.

Non-US Sender

The non-US sender should find out what can be done through their foreign postal administration.

The item:

• Is damaged, lost, or missing contents
• Is not insured and does not have indemnity (First Class Mail International Service or First Class Package International Service)
• Has been Returned to Sender

US Sender

We apologize, but an inquiry cannot be created for uninsured items and items without indemnity.

Non-US Sender

The non-US sender should find out what can be done through their foreign postal administration.

The item:

• Is damaged, lost, or missing contents
• Is insured and/or has indemnity

US Sender

The US sender will need to create an inquiry through USPS

Non-US Sender

The sender of the item will need to create an inquiry with their foreign postal administration. 

The US recipient will take the item (all its contents and shipping material) to a Post Office to report.

The item:

• Is damaged, lost, or missing contents
• Is insured and/or has indemnity
• Has been Returned to Sender

US Sender

The US sender will need to create an inquiry through USPS and take the item (all its contents and shipping material) to a Post Office for damage verification.

Non-US Sender

The non-US sender should find out what can be done through their foreign postal administration.

The item was delivered late

US Sender

If a Priority Mail Express International® item with Money-Back Guarantee (PMEI-DC) was delivered after the Guaranteed Delivery Date (GDD), create an inquiry.

PMEI, PMI, Registered Mail, FCMI, FCPIS, and M-bag items do not have a guaranteed date of delivery.

Non-US Sender

If the item has a guaranteed delivery date, the non-US Sender must initiate an inquiry with their postal administration.

• To create an international inquiry online, go to https://www.usps.com/help/international-claims.htm and look under the "How It Works" or "How to File a Claim" sections.
• For further information and details, continue.

• 3-30 days to submit an inquiry for postage refund for late delivery
• 3-90 days to file an inquiry for loss, damaged, or missing contents

• To create an international inquiry online, go to https://www.usps.com/help/international-claims.htm and look under the “How It Works” or “How to File a Claim” sections.
• For further information and details, continue.

Regardless of mail class, you'll need to have the following information about your package:

• The USPS Tracking number that appears on the receipt 
• The sender’s name, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number 
• The addressee’s name and mailing address
• The addressee’s e-mail address and telephone number, if available
• The date of the mailing, weight, postage paid, and additional fees, if applicable
• A description of the contents 
• Evidence of Mailing
• Evidence of Value

To initiate an online inquiry at https://www.usps.com/help/international-claims.htm, you must:

• Be the US sender
• Be a registered USPS.com account holder or create a USPS.com account before you file the inquiry.

To initiate an inquiry by phone you must:

• Be the US sender
• Call the USPS Customer Care Center 1-800-222-1811 within the time limits listed by service.
• Hours of Operation
  Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 8:30 PM ET
  Saturday: 8 AM – 6 PM ET
  Federal Holidays: CLOSED

Processing an inquiry

Once you provide the relevant mailing information and/or documentation online or by telephone, the Postal Service® will correspond with the appropriate foreign post and advise you of the results of the inquiry. If initiated online, the Postal Service will update the online inquiry.

To check the status of an inquiry, click here.

Online claims are recommended for convenience and speedier processing:

• You can submit your inquiry online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
• Check your inquiry or claim status online at your convenience
• Processing time is significantly less for inquiries submitted online
• No need to complete paper claim forms, in most instances, claims are processed automatically online

When there is a determination that an item is eligible for a claim, the International Research Group will change the claim status to “Claim Sent for Review” and notify the customer by email.

For damage or loss claims, you will not receive a paper claims form by mail; the process is completed online. The only exception is for PMEI postage refunds. The indemnity process, if applicable, is completed online automatically, however a PS Form 3533 will be sent to you for the postage refund portion only if it qualifies. You will need to take the PS Form 3533 to your local Post Office for the postage refund to be processed. 

No further action will be required from you once the inquiry is sent to Claims. Claims will review the investigation to determine if the claim will be approved or denied.

You can also review the status of your inquiry by logging in to USPS.com and viewing your “Inquiry History”.

If the inquiry is:

• Approved, you will receive an email of its approval. A check will be mailed to the address you provided.
• Determined not to be eligible for a claim, an email will be sent with a status update specific to the results of your inquiry.

After the investigation of the inquiry has been completed and it has been determined that you are eligible for a claim, a packet will be mailed.

The packet will include a letter of instruction on how to complete and submit the claim. Once the claim packet is received by the Accounting Service Center, the claim process will begin.

You can check the status of an international inquiry submitted online by:

Logging into your USPS.com® registered account by clicking on the following link: https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm.

• At a minimum, you will need the following information:
  • USPS.com® log-in credentials
  • Tracking number

You can check the status of an international inquiry submitted by phone by:

Calling 1-800-222-1811 and speaking with a Customer Care Center agent.

• At a minimum, you will need to provide the following information:
  • Your name
  • Case Number or Tracking number

You can check the status of a claim submitted online by:

Logging into your USPS.com® registered account by clicking on the following link: https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm.

• At a minimum, you will need the following information:
  • USPS.com® log-in credentials
  • Tracking number

You can check the status of a claim submitted by phone by:

Contacting the Accounting Helpdesk at 1-866-974-2733.

• Hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm ET (7:00 am to 7:00 pm CT).
• At a minimum, you will need to provide the following information:
  • Your name
  • Tracking number
  • Original mailing date

Priority Mail Express International® claims

Paid by the country of origin to the sender. Payments to US senders will be made by the U.S. Postal Service.

International Registered Mail® items claims

Paid by the country of origin to the sender. Payments to US senders will be made by the U.S. Postal Service.

If the Registered Mail item is not delivered or has been delivered with contents totally missing or contents totally damaged, indemnity plus postage is paid.

Note: The sender may waive the right to payment, in writing, in favor of the addressee. Payment in such cases will be made by the destination postal administration.

Priority Mail International® items claims

Paid by the country of origin to the sender. Payments to US senders will be made by the U.S. Postal Service.

Note: The sender may waive the right to payment, in writing, in favor of the addressee. Payment in such cases will be made by the destination postal administration.

Claims for items delivered in damaged condition or with missing contents

Paid by the country of origin to the sender. Payments to US senders will be made by the U.S. Postal Service.

Note: The sender may waive the right to payment, in writing, in favor of the addressee. Payment in such cases will be made by the destination postal administration.

Claims for items mailed from foreign countries that are lost or that are delivered in damaged condition or with missing contents

Paid by the origin postal administration to the sender.

Note: The sender may waive the right to payment, in writing, in favor of the U.S. addressee. In such cases, the U.S. Postal Service pays the U.S. addressee.

In dispute of the denial

To start an appeal:

1. Go to the Inquiry History page.
2. Select the inquiry.
3. Enter additional information you want considered and resubmit.

For a denied claim, you may appeal a decision by filing a written appeal within 60 days of the date of the original decision to the following address:

ACCOUNTING SERVICES
INTERNATIONAL CLAIM APPEALS
PO BOX 80146
ST. LOUIS, MO 63180-0146

In your appeal, please:

• Explain why your case should be reviewed.
• Make sure that proof of value, evidence of mailing and insurance coverage for the article have been submitted.

Insufficient payment

For a check sent in an amount less than the insured amount, you may submit a check protest appeal by filing a written appeal within 60 days of the date of the check to the following address:

ACCOUNTING SERVICES
CHECK PROTEST
PO BOX 80141
ST. LOUIS, MO 63180-0141