Hmmmmmm...I ordered customs forms, and got a pack of 50 of those new ones that don't exist. *insert theme from "Twilight Zone" here* My post office hasn't heard of them either. I'm still using my old ones until I run out. I just love the conflicting information you get from PO to PO. The lady at the Joelton PO told me you can't put anything with a flag on it on anything going to Iraq or Afghanistan. No flag stamps, no flag stickers, no flag ANYTHING, because it was offensive to the Muslims in those countries. She was dead serious. She refused to sell me stamps with flags on them to put on my letters to the troops. I told her I put flag stickers on every letter I send, and not one of them has been refused, and I know they're getting to the addressee because I get replies back...still she argued. I don't use that post office any more, needless to say.

 Here is a reply I had from a P.O. rep. This was a response to my inquiry through the "contact us" button on the USPS website.  Incidentally, I nearly did not open it as it had her name, and just the word "inquiry" on the subject line - I am wary of this kind of e-mail.

Since my boxes probably contain 15-20 or more items, I guess I will just have to do 3-4 or more forms per box.  (Is anyone out there encouraging our gov't to conserve in these days?)

Dorothy –

Thank you for your recent correspondence with the US Postal Service in regards to the new custom forms.  These changes are necessary to meet the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) requirements for electronic filing of customs forms. 

The easiest way to expedite this process and fulfill the electronic data transfer requirement is to complete PS Form 2976-A online at www.usps.com and print it.   There is a standard version and an APO/FPO version specifically for Military Addresses.  On the website, the form allows you to input a maximum of five items.  If you are sending more than five items, you just need to fill out an additional form. 

Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to explain the new custom requirements.

Deanna Poppen

I just went to usps.com to try filling out their apo/fpo customs form.....there doesn't seem to be such a thing!  I clicked and searched and just got the regular form which kicked me out for not having the "right" address.  If anyone finds this APO/FPO form, would they put the link on the forum and advise Marty Horn so he can advise everyone. 

Is it possible that the USPS rep was speaking of the new form which is supposed to be used beginning March 28?  Maybe you can't get it to work online either until then since they were speaking of the new form - or maybe it's more gobbledygook from the USPS.

Gran

Here is where I found the page for customs forms:  http://webapps.usps.com/customsforms/ 

It has a box with options which include form 2976 (green form) Standard or APO/FPO Version and form 2976-A (white multiple page form) Standard or APO/FPO Version and you click on the one you want.  It appears that the forms are basically the same, but the APO/FPO Version does give you the option after you click on city/state I believe I remember, to do the choices allowed for military addresses.  I was going to do a sample form, but made a mistake that I realized might prevent it from going through, and couldn't go back and lost it when I was on the fifth item.  I wanted to see if it would accept more than 5 items at a time.  It may take us a lot of extra time at the computer playing with them to get it right, though.

Gran

MomAnita:

Well I found out today you ladies are misinformed, there is no new custom form!  And I know there isn't because I spoke with a person at the 1-800 number for USPS so there is no problem!      He insisted there is no new form coming out, when I told him I knew of people who actually had the new forms in their hands, he said I was mistaken or they had the wrong form!  Can you believe that!!!???   Our post office still has no info on it.  It would be nice if he were right, but I tend to belive the folks on here more than the PO!   

 I did send an e-mail to them as well and will be sending off to our Senators/State Rep.  Don't really expect any help what with all the economic woes they are dealing with, but dang it this could really affect people mailing to our guys, especially new ones. 

Our post office is moving into their new bldg over the weekend so doubt they will want to do any research, might be just as well, maybe as long as they don't know about it we can use our old forms.    Anita

I had the same experience at my PO.  when I inquired about the new form. They didn't know a thing about it!!......

Thanks for this info, BUT, I went to the site, got the APO/FPO version and tried it out with 5 items and one of my addresses.  It didn't work!  The reply was "unable to process your request--fill in all the blanks".  Well, I had and I don't know what's not kosher.  Has anyone else tried this yet?  Also, am wondering whether it's the info under "if undeliverable" section.  We always put (before) "any soldier", but now they want whole address, which I improvised from the addressee's. 

Well I just had a response to my e-mail to USPS - "I have forwarded your e-mail to the person best able to responde to it".  and thanked me for using the USPS, like there is any other way to mail to our troops!! 

Peachy - just out of curiosity, why do you feel Biden is the one to contact?   I'm willing to try anyone, just curious.  Anita

Momanita:  I think he has a son in Iraq and he was head of Foreign Relations committee and has seen the troops overseas many times.  Besides, Barack has his hands full!  I think we should try everyone we can til someone gets it!  I was thinking of John McCain because I think he has a son in the military.  Also, Hillary Clinton.  I have e-mailed all the senators and congressmen I know in CA plus Nancy Pelosi.  This is a Customs & Border Protection Agency requirement that the USPS must enforce.  I'm not sure how to get to them.  Any ideas?  I also contacted the head of Operation Gratitude here in Southern CA.  They send a ton of boxes and would have some clout if they can reach the right person.  That's really what we need to do.  My fear is that if we don't do it right after March 28, customs will return all our boxes.  What a waste that would be!

Is March 28 a firm date or will the date depend on when my local PO gets the computer needed to do the job? They complain all the time about how ancient the equipment is.

I actually went to the whitehouse.gov site this week and typed a letter to Mrs. Obama about the new forms.  Since she was asking this week for us to help the soldiers and their family's I thought she might be able to help us.  The site gives you the ability to type a pretty long letter and shows you how many more char you can type.  Not sure I'll hear anything back or if she'll see it, but figured it had a better chance of being seen than a letter.  Select Contact us to start writing your letter.

Anna

I sent a message there yesterday!  Gave them a fake name/address (and said so) with the same number of characters and lines.  Also listed all the contents of my latest package and asked how to fit this into that form.  I too am waiting to hear from them.  I sent a second one requesting a letter for Christopher Lee from the President (he said in his post that it would be out of this world if they got one).  I explained how to go on site to get his address.  Figured it wouldn't hurt to call attention to the site in the White House circles.

Kathy

I actually game my correct name & number and offered a couple of time to speak to them to explain the issue.  I commute into DC 3 days a week and 90% of the people on the busses work for the Gov in one way or another and a large number of the people go to the Pentagon each day.  Some of the guys on the bus helped with a problem we had with one of our neighbors (nothing illegal) so maybe they can help with this issue.  I'm going to start talking around to see if anyone has ideas on who we can contact.  One of our friends is a retired Marketing Dir for the Post office and he may also have some ideas.  I'll let y'all know if I get a name to contact or any information that will help.

 Anna

Hit post too soon...Not enough coffee this morning.

I successfully created the custom form online.  I tried a couple of different ways, but it wouldn't let me add more than 5 items.  On my form I marked 'return to sender' on the non deliverable box and I also marked that it was a gift.  Once I got the form created, I couldn't figure out a way to edit or copy the form so I could create the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th form and just edit the contents box.....I have more than 5 items in my box.  Looks like you really do have to fill in all fields for each form you need to generate for one box.  No short cuts that I could figure out.

 I'm a Quality Assurance Manager for software (most web) applications and I did find a list of issues with the form application.  A couple of times I received errors when I shouldn't have which will make it even more difficult to figure out this form.

Hope this helps and thanks to your posting I learned what to put in the non deliverable box (if we can get it to work).

Question....do you mark the package as gift or other?

Thanks,

Anna

That's funny that the new form is out there.  As I posted in another forum, according to the 1-800 postal number there is NO new form.  However, after speaking to my local PO clerk, she stated that selected post offices would start utilizing the form on March 21.  She didn't have any idea when it'd become mandatory for everyone, but said since this was a small PO we'd probably be on of the last ones. 

The guy I spoke to on the 1-800 asked me where I got my information.  LOL!  Apparently, the left hand isn't talking to the right hand because no one really seems to know what's going on.