Tonight I received the teacher handbook from my school in Brazil and it was full of helpful information and great tips for someone moving to Brasilia. Makes the trip even more real and me an even more very excited and anxious person!
In addition, I found out that there IS a way to ship books and other printed matter to an international address. Great news! I thought that media mail was only a treat for us bibliophiles shipping books/magazines within the United States.
This is what my school sent regarding "m-bags":
"The cheapest way to send books from the USA is M-Bag through the U.S. Postal Service. Mbags
are a special service to send books or printed matter to an international address at a
reduced postage rate. It usually takes one to two weeks, but it might take much longer. Send
books in your name to the school. Be sure to pack all books in strong boxes!!!"For more information, visit the USPS website:
260 Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (M–bags)
261 Description
261.1 General
M-bags are defined as direct sacks of printed matter (see 261.22) sent to a single foreign addressee at a single address. There are three types of M–bags: Airmail M-bags, International Priority Airmail (IPA) M-bags, and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) M-bags. All M-bags are subject to the following conditions of mailing:
- Maximum weight of a sack: 66 pounds (including the tare weight of the sack). Lower maximum weights apply to certain countries. See the Individual Country Listings.
- Availability: All destinations that are referenced in the Individual Country Listings for Airmail M-bags, in Exhibit 292.452 for IPA M-bags, and in Exhibit 293.452 for ISAL M-bags.
- Identification: PS Tag 158, M–bag Addressee Tag, must be completed and attached to the neck of the sack.
- Postage: The applicable postage for Airmail M-bags, International Priority Airmail (IPA), and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) must be affixed to PS Tag 158.
- Extra services: Certificate of mailing is available. Registry and insurance are not available.
261.2 Eligibility
261.21 Printed Matter
Printed matter is admissible in M-bags. Articles that meet the definition of “printed matter” include newspapers, magazines, journals, books, sheet music, catalogs, directories, commercial advertising, and promotional matter. “Printed matter” is defined as follows:
- Papers upon which words, letters, characters, figures, images, or any combinations thereof appear.
- Papers that do not have the character of a bill or statement of account.
- Papers that do not have the character of current and personal correspondence.
261.22 Other Articles
Certain other articles may be enclosed in M-bags, provided that all of the following conditions of mailing are met:
- The articles being sent are limited to discs, tapes, and cassettes; commercial samples shipped by manufacturers and distributors; or other non-dutiable commercial articles or informational materials that are not subject to resale.
- The articles are related to the printed matter (see 261.21) with which they are being mailed.
- The articles are affixed to or are otherwise combined with the accompanying printed matter.
- The combined weight of each printed matter mailpiece and the related articles may not exceed 4 pounds.
- The M-bag must be accompanied by a fully completed PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 — Sender’s Declaration (green label), which is to be affixed to PS Tag 158, M-bag Addressee Tag.
261.23 Mail Not Sealed Against Inspection
M-bags are not sealed against inspection. Regardless of physical closure, the mailing of an M-bag, including an airmail, IPA, or ISAL M-bag, constitutes consent by the mailer to inspection of the contents.
