Can post office hold mail longer than 30 days
According to the United States Postal Service (USPS) guidelines, the maximum time a post office can hold mail is 30 days. This is stated in the USPS's Domestic Mail Manual, Section 604.5.0, which says:
"The maximum time a mailpiece can be held at a post office is 30 days. If a mailpiece is not claimed or delivered within 30 days, it will be returned to the sender as undeliverable."
However, there are some exceptions and circumstances where a post office may hold mail for longer than 30 days:
- Holidays and Inclement Weather: If a post office is closed due to a holiday or inclement weather, mail may be held for a longer period before being returned to the sender.
- Address Correction: If a mailpiece is returned to the post office due to an incorrect address, it may be held for a longer period to allow the sender to correct the address.
- Special Handling: In some cases, a post office may hold mail for longer than 30 days if it requires special handling, such as a signature upon delivery or a specific delivery instruction.
- International Mail: For international mail, the holding period may be longer than 30 days, as it may take longer to resolve issues related to customs clearance or address corrections.
- Post Office Policy: Some post offices may have their own policies for holding mail, which may be more lenient than the 30-day limit. However, this is not a standard practice and may vary depending on the post office.
It's essential to note that if your mail is held for longer than 30 days, you may need to contact the post office or the sender to resolve the issue and retrieve your mail.