Mail to Canada From the USA Is Accepted Again as of Monday, January 6, 2025
NOTICE: Effective Monday, January 6, 2025, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will resume accepting International mail and packages bound for Canada.
We’re excited to report that Canada Post has made substantial progress in resolving delays resulting from the recent Canadian Union of Postal Workers strike. With services back on track, retail and commercial customers, along with users of online mailing systems, can now send letters, documents, and packages to Canada seamlessly, according to the USPS.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? Great news! If you’ve been holding off on mailing to Canada, you can now proceed with confidence. As always, LetterStream is ready and eager to assist with sending your international mail quickly and securely.
If you had previously uploaded jobs to be sent to Canada, that were then placed on hold, they will now be resumed and sent out starting on January 6th. Be sure to check your account to see updates and status.
HOW LETTERSTREAM SUPPORTS YOUR MAILING NEEDS: As a printing and mailing company, it is our duty to closely monitor postal service news to ensure our customers stay informed of critical updates. Whether it’s temporary service interruptions or resumptions like this, we’re here to help you navigate your mailing needs with ease and reliability.
For the latest updates on International mailing statuses, the USPS provides information through its Service Alerts page. You can also visit the Canada Post Negotiations page for updates on their progress.
Mail services will halt on Thursday, January 9, 2025, to honor former President Jimmy Carter. LetterStream will still be open and processing mail behind the scenes.
In a heartfelt tribute to the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter, a National Day of Observance has been declared for Thursday, January 9, 2025, according to President Biden’s Proclamation. The day will honor the remarkable contributions of this beloved leader, pausing regular operations across various sectors—including the United States Postal Service.
Here’s what you need to know about how this observance impacts mailing services:
No Regular Mail or Retail Services
On January 9, the Postal Service will temporarily halt regular mail deliveries, retail operations, and administrative office activities. This pause allows everyone, including Postal Service employees, to reflect on and honor President Carter’s legacy.
“Out of respect for the 39th President of the United States and to honor his vast contributions to our country during his lifetime, and consistent with the Presidential Proclamation, the United States Postal Service will suspend regular mail deliveries, retail services and administrative office activity on Jan 9,” said Tiffany Rowland, Strategic communications specialist with the U.S. Postal Service, according to MSN.
What Happens to Commercial Mail?
Commercial mailers, don’t fret! While regular deliveries take a break, the Postal Service will continue accepting and processing mail volume at its processing facilities. If you’re a business with time-sensitive needs, this ensures your mail is still moving behind the scenes.
Limited Package Delivery
Packages are a priority! Limited package delivery services will be active on January 9 to ensure smooth operations and avoid delays that could disrupt customers or business partners. The Postal Service is balancing respect for the observance with its commitment to customer service.
A Nationwide Pause
This observance impacts all Postal Service facilities, from headquarters in Washington, DC, to area and district offices. The entire organization is coming together to honor the day appropriately.
Back to Business on Friday, January 10th
Regular operations for the USPS will resume on Friday, January 10, 2025.
What Does This Mean for LetterStream Customers?
Here at LetterStream, we’ve got your back no matter what! While the Postal Service takes a well-deserved pause, our services remain available to help you navigate any mailing challenges. Whether you need to send critical business mail, important documents, or time-sensitive notices, we’ll be working to ensure everything is prepared and sent off for when regular mail operations resume.
Our secure, efficient online platform makes it easy to handle your mailing needs—even during a national observance. You can upload jobs, track progress, and stay in control of your mail without skipping a beat. With LetterStream, mailing stress is always off the table.
A Day of Remembrance
While the observance means a brief pause in some services, it’s a meaningful opportunity to reflect on President Carter’s extraordinary life and the indelible mark he left on our nation. Let’s take this moment to remember a leader who inspired change, championed humanitarian causes, and led with compassion.
To learn more about the 2025 USPS Postal Holiday closures and when LetterStream will still be open and mailing, click here.
Canada Post will begin accepting International Mail on December 23rd.
NOTICE: Canadian Postal Workers Returned to Work on December 17th
Following a month-long strike, Canadian postal workers returned to their jobs on December 17th under a back-to-work order. While mail operations have resumed, Canada Post has indicated that significant delays may persist as they work through a backlog of mail accumulated during the strike.
Current Update from Canada Post
Canada Post began accepting letters and parcels again two days after workers were ordered back to work. However, Canadians are advised to anticipate delays well into January due to the volume of mail awaiting processing.
According to Canada Post, “mail is being processed on a first-in, first-out basis,” meaning older mail will be delivered before newer submissions. International mail services are also resuming, with Canada Post set to start accepting new international mail on December 23rd. For more details, read the full report on the Calgary Herald website.
What This Means for LetterStream Customers
At LetterStream, we want to reassure you that we are fully operational and ready to assist with your printing and mailing needs. While the Canadian postal system works to resolve its backlog, here’s how we’re supporting you:
1. Mailing Resumes on December 23rd: We will begin sending mail to Canada starting on this date, in alignment with Canada Post’s updated policies.
2. No Disruption to Job Acceptance: We are continuing to accept and process your print and mail orders as usual, ensuring they are submitted to Canada Post for delivery.
3. Monitoring the Situation: Our team is closely monitoring updates from Canada Post and will provide timely information if there are changes that could impact your mailing projects.
How to Plan Your Mailings
Given the potential for delivery delays, we recommend submitting your mailing jobs as soon as possible to ensure they are processed in a timely manner. Our advanced mailing platform and reliable processes ensure that your mail is prepared and submitted without delay, even during periods of postal disruption.
For more updates on the Canadian postal service or assistance with your mailing needs, visit our blog regularly or reach out to our customer support team. At LetterStream, we’re committed to delivering your mail with precision and care—ensuring your peace of mind, even in challenging times.
Mail Sent to Canada From USA Has Been Temporarily Suspended As Well
NOTICE: No Canadian letters have been processed by The Canada Post since November 17, 2024.
__________
WHY? There is an ongoing national strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, according to USPS.
THIS IS AN INTERNAL CANADIAN MAIL ISSUES
This issue impacts all Canadian mail, including domestic letters and cross-border letters.
__________
WHAT CAN YOU DO? LetterStream is here for you. If you do send mail to Canada LetterStream will hold onto it. We will send the mail we hold once the USPS is accepting Canadian mail once again.
LetterStream will not prohibit the sending of Canadian letters, but any letters received will be held until USPS resumes accepting mail for Canada.
At this time, we do not know when services will be restored.
LetterStream will keep our customers informed of updates through this channel and others as soon as USPS begins accepting mail to Canada again.
We’ve got some fantastic news that’ll make your morning coffee taste even sweeter—The United States Postal Service (USPS) is not raising postage prices in January 2025! Yes, you read that right. There will be no postage increase January 2025. For the first time in what feels like forever (since 2021 to be exact), the USPS is taking a breather from its usual New Year’s tradition of hiking rates.
Trust us when we say that we are just as thrilled here at LetterStream as you are! Not only does this mean more stability for your mailing budgets right off the bat in 2025, but it also gives you all a little extra time to enjoy the savings without the usual scramble to adjust.
A Brief Pause in the Usual Postage Rate Increases
The announcement comes following a recommendation that was set forth by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
“Our strategies are working and projected inflation is declining,” said DeJoy. “Therefore, we will wait until at least July before proposing any increases for market-dominant services.”
On that note, let’s take a moment to appreciate this unusual break in tradition. January is often marked by the expectation of increased mailing costs, but this time, there’s no need to adjust your postage budget. You can continue sending your First-Class letters, statements and notices, invoices and legal notices with Certified Mail tracking without needing to spend more money. It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy some stability in your mailing expenses—a much-needed pause before the usual adjustments that will come later in the year.
Don’t Celebrate Too Early…
While we’re all for celebrating this January reprieve, we have to keep our feet on the ground. The USPS has signaled that the rate hike freeze is just temporary. Rumor has it, the next postage increase has already been planned with postage prices rising in July 2025, with additional increases lined up through 2027. Yep, that’s right—five potential rate hikes on the horizon. This is not fully confirmed but it is something to keep in mind when planning your budget since it’s likely to happen based on past years.
It seems the USPS is just delaying the inevitable, giving us all a little break before ramping things up again. So, while we’re excited about January, it’s important to stay vigilant and start planning ahead for those mid-year adjustments.
Staying Prepared with LetterStream
LetterStream is focused on being ready for whatever comes next, whether it’s an unexpected price increase or a temporary reprieve. While we appreciate the break this January, we’re also mindful of what may lie ahead in July and beyond when it comes to sending snail mail.
Our goal is to help you navigate these changes smoothly, ensuring your mailing processes remain consistent and efficient. Whether it’s planning your mailing strategy or adjusting your budget, we’re here to help you stay on track without disruption.
What’s Next?
So, what’s our advice? Enjoy this little postal victory, but don’t let your guard down. With July 2025 on the horizon, it’s never too early to start thinking about how to optimize your mailing operations and stay ahead of the curve. And, of course, we’ll be here to make sure your mailing game remains strong, no matter what the USPS throws our way.
Here’s to a fantastic start to 2025—and to staying prepared for whatever the rest of the year has in store. Cheers to no January postage hikes!
To learn more about LetterStream or to create a free account, click here.
As the legal industry and law firms continue to evolve, professionals are constantly seeking innovative solutions to enhance their efficiency and client communication.
With that being said, LetterStream, a leading provider of printing and mailing services, is thrilled to announce that we will be attending the 2024 Community Association Law Seminar, taking place on February 14-17 in Las Vegas to help bring awareness to lawyers and law firms about more efficient ways to send out their mailings.
Simplied Communication for Lawyers
In the legal world, effective communication is paramount. Attorneys often find themselves inundated with crucial letters and documents that need to be sent to clients promptly. That’s where we come in! LetterStream specializes in simplifying this process by offering a streamlined and efficient platform for the printing and mailing of important correspondence that is secure and confidential!
Why We Are Attending
Our reason for attending the 2024 Community Association Law Seminar is to showcase our services that empower lawyers to focus on their legal expertise while leaving the task of printing and mailing in capable hands. By leveraging LetterStream’s services, legal professionals can enhance their client engagement strategies, ensuring that important information reaches clients in a timely and professional manner.
The Community Association Law Seminar is the premier conference for attorneys and insurance professionals who represent those in homeowner’s associations (HOA community management), property management, condominium communities, or housing cooperatives.
And guess what? We do a ton of printing and mailing jobs for homeowner’s associations. In fact, we also provide print and mail fulfillment to many software providers that serve community associations, so it makes sense for us to connect with HOA lawyers.
Networking Opportunities with LetterStream Experts
The Community Association Law Seminar provides an excellent opportunity for legal professionals and attorneys for HOAs to connect with the experts at LetterStream. Attendees can engage in one-on-one discussions, seek solutions, and gain insights into how LetterStream’s services can be help meet their specific needs.
We can sit and discuss all of our mailing options including Certified Mailv (key for lawyers to have access to), Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt (USPS tracking and signature confirmation), USPS First-Class mailings, FedEx 2Day, Statements, postcards for marketing purposes and more. Or, you can just come hang out with us in our booth. We promise we’re fun to be around!
LetterStream’s Commitment to Legal Excellence
With a commitment to excellence and a proven track record of serving the legal community, LetterStream is dedicated to helping lawyers navigate the challenges of sending communications out easily and with minimal effort.
To learn more about the 2024 Community Association Law Seminar, click here.
Wow, can you believe we’re officially in Q4 of 2023?! I’m sure you’re like us where each year you think, “Where has the time gone?” but this year feels like it’s going especially fast…wouldn’t you agree? With that being said, we’ve made a lot of new updates to our website, along with printing and mailing updates and processes over the last few months (well years even but that’s a blog post for another day) and we wanted to share some of them with you.
What LetterStream’s Been Up to With Printing and Mailing Services
Let’s get into it, shall we? Let’s fill you in on what the mailing experts have been up to over here at LetterStream over the last few months.
Our production team is always busy serving up fast, perfect mail. Our customer support team is rocking it by giving nothing short of mad customer love. Our IT department just keeps making magic happen. Our marketing department has been revamping and reorganizing our online presence and our accounting team just keeps being awesome at what they do best.
Now, let’s get into the specifics of what we’ve been up to behind the scenes for you, our awesome clients, new and old to LetterStream. Keep in mind, we try to keep our updates subtle, so they don’t disrupt your normal processes when creating jobs to send your letters.
Quick Updates to Help You Send Mail Online Include:
Re-named #9 envelope overprint
Added the correct artwork/thumbnail for our flat-sized envelope
Turned on user-created endorsements for our flat-size envelopes
Improved access to our BAA (Business Associates Agreement) for HIPAA clients. We now use DocuSign to get our BAA to you and back in record time.
More In-Depth Updates
Let’s get into a bit more detail for some of the bigger updates we’ve been working on and have finally launched.
New Chatbot on LetterStream
We added a new chatbot to our website. This one we are super excited for and it’s going to help with quick answers to just about any question you may have.
Our new Chatbot is not like the others. It is an extremely fast, highly intelligent AI that can actually get you help faster than if you were talking to a human. Now, of course, our customer support is still available to provide mad customer love to our clients, but the Chatbot will help to answer most questions instantly.
We did it, finally! We turned on FedEx 2Day letters for users that have been active for 6 months or more.
Currently, we offer the standard FedEx 2Day letter option. This will get your FedEx envelope delivered by 5 P.M. on the second business day from when it was mailed.
To learn more about the new FedEx 2Day or to see the step-by-step process on how to mail your documents via FedEx through our online portal, click here.
Improved Help Articles
Our customer support team has not only been busy providing customers with the best support possible, but they’ve also been busy improving some Help articles to make it easier to find questions to answers you might be looking for.
We have a plethora of articles that have recently been updated but here are a few to reference below:
We are beyond excited to announce that we recently added a new member to our customer support team who has been such an incredible asset to us. If you happen to reach out to support and get a reply from her, be sure to say hi! Welcome to the team, Morgan!
Well, that’s the not-so-quick update we have for you in regard to what’s been going on here at LetterStream lately. Keep in mind that we’re currently in the holiday season, so be sure to prepare accordingly for closures coming up. Here is an overview of the 2023 USPS (United States Postal Service) and LetterStream’s Holiday Schedule.
Let’s face it, we all need a little help sometimes. Even the LetterStream team needs help getting fast and convenient answers to customers 24/7/365 to include all days of the year, including holidays where we’re closed. That’s where our new chatbot friend comes in. We’ve implemented a new online help chat tool designed to help us, help you, with finding the most up-to-date answers as well as tips and tricks to make your utilization of our website and mail-building tools even more powerful.
Ever-Present Chatbot Help Center
Floating in the lower right corner of every page of our website is a help icon. When clicked it summons a powerful chatbot tool, that through the use of AI, can quickly return answers to your most pressing questions. Make note that the floating button never goes away, however, it can be scrolled out of the way by using your side scroll button in the event that it covers something you are trying to read. To minimize the dialog window after getting your answer, simply hit the icon once more and all is hidden from view. Not to worry; your prior conversations are kept so you can refer back to them whenever you open the chat tool again.
Not Like Other Chatbots
Our chatbot is not like the others. No, other chats can get kind of annoying. You know what I mean? You ask a question and feel like you are waiting for a highly distracted person to get back to you. I often imagine one person with a circle of computers around them. Each one with a person in chat. The operator spins their rolling chair from one computer to the next answering 10 people at a time and never really understanding what anyone asks. Anyway, our chat tool isn’t like that. It is blazingly fast and provides extremely accurate information.
But, I Need a Human, Not a Chatbot
Not to worry. We have plenty of humans behind-the-scenes ready to give you even more personalized assistance. As some of you already know, our team of humans do super-human things and can answer any question you may have. They can even propose changes and fixes to our always-ready-to-help development staff. To reach a human, simply send an email to support@letterstream.com. But, while our humans don’t spin around in office chairs (well, sometimes they do for fun), keep in mind that they might be on break, in a meeting, on vacation or working on the next cool feature, so for the fastest answers, be sure to ask your questions in the chat tool first.
I Have an Urgent Need
Believe it or not, this is the main reason we introduced the chatbot in the first place. People sometimes run into snags and need a solution right now, not in 20 hours or after someone returns from a meeting. This makes our decision to employ a chatbot all the more relevant. It’s not just you that has an urgent need, many customers do, and we want to help them all.
Disaster Averted Thanks to Chatbot
Using the chatbot to find answers quickly takes the urgency and the drama out of your day. Another major thing that we do is provide you the tools, within your account portal, to stop, pause or cancel a job at any point up until it is time to mail. To take advantage of this process, simply log into your LetterStream account, find the job in question, and click the word EDIT appearing in the Options column. From here you can choose what you need to do, stop and shred, pause, delete, etc. Some options come and go as the job moves through our production process. For more information see our help article “Changing a Job.”
Help Pages Still Present
Which reminds me! We still have all our help pages, videos and content. Simply navigate to the bottom of any page and select HELP from the list of options in the footer. These resources are still very beneficial and is one more method you can use to get all the help you need.
Thanks to all of you for supporting and remaining loyal to us during COVID-19. It’s been a number of weeks since we’ve given you an update so we thought we’d pass along our current status.
As an essential business, as defined at both the states and federal level, we are still open and operating, and, aside from suspending our Express Letter job type, there has been practically no negative impacts on our speed of service or quality.
I have to express our overwhelming appreciation to our team for reacting positively to a great many restrictions that we imposed on them, like canceling their free gym memberships, closing down our breakroom, getting rid of shared food, and breaking up comfortable workgroups by spreading workers around the clock. We have been blown away by our team’s flexibility and commitment to us and to you our customers.
Going forward, as the country attempts to get back to some level of normalcy we are working on our next phase of operating, taking into account both state and federal guidelines and recommendations. The Governor of Arizona recently announced that we are in Phase One of his reopening strategy. Group gatherings are to be limited to 10 or fewer people and social distancing is still to be observed. Phase Two is likely to occur at the end of the month if all state metrics are trending in the right direction.
In Phase One we will continue to practice social distancing, equipment, and workplace disinfecting and frequent hand washings. Our breakroom and common areas will remain closed and essential employees are encouraged to wear masks. Non-essential employees will continue to work from home and meetings will be handled via conference calls, zoom meetings, and the like.
When the Governor declares Phase Two, we will cautiously work to remove some obstacles to productivity all the while continuing to embrace appropriate methods of cleaning and disinfecting. In Phase Two we anticipate reintroducing non-essential employees into the building in a limited capacity and may receive an occasional prospective client for a company tour.
Keep in mind we remain highly vigilant for the health and safety of our employees, customers, and those in our community and will always choose safety over convenience or profit. This period calls for fluid decision making that is the best interest of all. All that to say, our plans may change but know that we are striving to be the best possible us, so we can do our best for you. Thank you one and all!
Given today’s headlines it might sound treacherous to drive to Mexico; but how much more so, to make it a thousand-mile road trip through the country. And let’s add a twist of only traveling on unpaved and primitive roads.
Well, Dennis our Technical Services Manager is doing just that this weekend. But because Dennis loves a good challenge, he’s making the trip in a Volkswagen bug.
Dennis is racing in the 2019 Baja 1000, a grueling 1000 mile non-stop road race on nearly impassible roads in a car that’s over 50 years old and has a fraction of the horsepower of any modern car.
There are two things you should know about Dennis. First, he can fix anything (which LetterStream really benefits from and I’m sure his race team does too) and second he has a heart the size of the entire Baja Peninsula. Dennis has joined up with another Dennis, Hollenbeck, and his team to race Class 11 car 1121 through a brutalizing 1000 miles of dust and boulders. But car 1121 isn’t just a race car, it is owned and operated as an extension and fundraising arm of Real Life Ministries an organization that serves the less fortunate ones in Mexico.
So not only does Dennis get the joys of fixing even more things this weekend, he also gets the greater joy of participating in a journey to uplift the downtrodden and help shed light on a ministry seeking to do the same thing.
Dennis, we’ll be watching and cheering as you pound the rocky terrain of Baja Mexico and seek to make the world a little better for those around you.
Check out the following related websites:
Real Life Ministries. https://reallifeministries.org/ “committed to serving the less fortunate, tending to the sick, and providing shelter for the homeless. 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.”
Class 11 Car 1121. http://www.teamh12one.com/ “We are about Running the Race as it describes in Hebrews 12:one , “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us … run with perseverance the race marked out for us”.”
The Baja team fought a brutal battle, enduring one of the most difficult courses in the 52 years of the Baja 1000 history. And congrats to the team, for taking First Place in the group of Class 11 cars. How amazing, to punish the car and driver for over 36 hours of non-stop CARnage and still drive across the finish line. Great job team!
