[ddhuab]

Note: a little long-winded venting precedes my two QUESTIONS.

I was so proud of everything I accomplished today, despite my horrible cold. I mapquested all of my driving destinations, typed up all necessary incidental info about location of offices and fees, dropped my wrinkled bridesmaid's dress at the cleaners, swung by Kinko's to make 2 copies of everything for the dossier, then dropped our dossier photo CD off at the photo shop to print my photos. I even stopped for a quick bite of lunch and an oil change, then drove the 1.5 hours (each way) to the state capital to authenticate two documents at the county level and then head to the office of the Secretary of State for the state authentication/certification. Everything went smoothly. Despite my late start, I got back to town by 4pm, then had enough time to get to the bank for a money order and arrived at the post office by 4:40. Then my day stopped being so wonderful.

I asked the post office lady for some help regarding how to send my documents to the Guatemalan consulate, and I needed to track them. She cut me off and began handing me forms. Then I told her I needed to include a pre-paid mailer. She said that was impossible, because she had no idea how much THEY charge for postage. I explained it would be mailed from Miami, and she said ,"You said Guatemala." Anyway, I explained that the consulate was in Miami, but then she said I still could not get a prepaid mailer because she was still not sure how much it would cost to mail back to me. I explained it would propably be just an additional 23 pieces of paper (I have 23 documents), and I was willing to OVERPAY if that was possible, but she said she could not do it.

Q1: I KNOW it has to be possible to have a prepaid mailer, isn't it? THe woman I talked to at the Consulate this morning said it would be simpler if I used USPS for both sending and receiving.

I am going to call my agency in the morning AND I am going to go to a different post office in the morning, too, pretty early. I just thought it would help if I were "armed" with some information. I don't want to go all POSTAL at the post office, but, come on, wasn't this supposed to be the EASIEST part?

Q2: The few people I have talked to did not complete this step themselves; their agencies did it. Could you share your experience if you used the USPS both ways? (or at least, if you purchased a pre-paid mailer for the return of your legalized dossier to you? Could I just send a seperate money order to cover Express mail postage?

Thanks in advance,

D.

[WaitingforJacob]

I had a similar experience as you did at one post office, but another post office in my area was great.


I did use USPS Express mail and was able to include a return express envelope to have everything returned to me. These were also able to be tracked! The Consulate returned my documents to me very quickly, no problems. (I used the NY Consulate)

[ddhuab]

For a minute I was afraid it was somehow illegal or something - like pre- paying for an estimated 12 oz. and then what you pack is 16 oz. or something and the mailman has no recourse but to accept it.

I am sure it didn't help that I came in at the end of the day... I was just so excited that I was going to "make it" in the mail today that her reaction just floored me.

I hope I will do better at the other post office during the morning hours.

D.

[DPline]

I would have gone postal! Good grief! That was supposed to be the easy part!

I sent everything USPS. I would fill out one of the overnight Express Mail mailers with the address of where ever I wanted it returned to (me or our agency) and include that in one of the larger Express Mail envelopes along with the documents to be authenticated. It is a flat rate ($13.50 maybe - around that) and you just pre-pay the postage for the return and they have stamps for that amount that they put on the return mailer before packaging it in the "send" mailer. Just make sure you get the tracking number from the return mailer so you can track to see when the Consulate sends it back out.

I hope that makes sense. If not, just PM me or post and I will see if I can explain it better. It really is simple. Hopefully another Post Office will have a clue.

[carney10]

I have sent all my dossier correspondence to my facilitator USPS. I used the flat rate priority envelope and included a postage paid return flat rate priority envelope in it. The post office just put a large stamp on it, I think $3.80(not for sure). I also asked for delivery confirmation for tracking.
But one time I went to another local post office, and ask for the envelopes both prepaid so I could put the documents in it at home and mail the next day, the lady said no I had to bring it in and mail it thru them. Now what is the difference in my facilitator mailing the prepaid envelope back to me, or me putting mine in the mail box.????
I have found out in this process, people will tell you their opinion as if it is factual. When really they do not know for sure. Always double check if you think you are right!
Thanks,

[brinawynne]

Wow, I'm so sorry that you had a hard time at the PO. I don't have any advice, but wanted t tell you how happy I was to hear that you are at this point. Congrats!! We are right behind you. I am headed to get two docs authenticated (county level, probably the same two documents) and then head to the SOS this next Monday. Then I will keep driving till I get to our agency's office to hand deliver our dossier. WhoHoo! I look forward to seeing your progress!!! Good Luck tomorrow, I'm praying it will all go smooth for you!

Brina

[WaitingforJacob]

Go to www.USPS.gov You'll find information needed for Express mail.


Good luck at the post office tomorrow!!!

Kathy

[ddhuab]

I think I have figured out exactly what I need.

Here's another question (I will ask post-office, too).

Will this express mail require a signature? My DH is worried that our package of documents might get left out in the elements. (I am not too worried, as I have heard the turn-around of documents is pretty fast at Miami consulate, and I could just plan to be home all week next week, waiting on the mail). I thought, though, the documents might be safer if they were shipped in a box (however, I would have to initially use a really large box to ship a smaller one, wouldn't I?) Can the same box be re-used, just with another mailing label attached? How did your docs come back (box, envelope?).

I know I am being a nervous nelly about this -- I am just so worried about these precious documents! It has taken me almost 5 months (and a little more) to get these things together!

D.

[jennzyc]

I was worried about the same thing with the signature and being left out. It all worked out fine. Usually a place of business like that has a regular mail person and they deliver at a certain time and the same person signs for them everyday. They are used to recieveing overnight stuff (normal procedure). Just make sure you have tracking number and you will be all set. No need for a box, just use the flat rate envelopes.


Best wishes,

Jenn C.

[nnpmom]

First of all, I totally understand how much those docs mean! I can remember sending off all those precious pieces of paper and just kissing them to God and the USPS!!! I used the Miami Consulate for all our docs. I actually had to send them stuff twice (our notary stamp expired on our medical letters). I am not sure what all the fuss was about. I expressed mailed via USPS my docs to the Consulate (waiving the signature, which you do by signing a line on the label). I put my docs into the envelope, along with a prepaid express mailer. Like someone already said, it is a flat fee of around $13.50 for a mailer envelope. The Miami turnaround was super fast. The first set of docs were expressed back to me, with the updated letters expressed right to our agency (I just addressed the enclosed prepaid mailer to them). Maybe you got somenone new. I think the bigger the post office, the more likely they are to have handled something like this before.
Hats off to all you accomplished yesterday! You go girl!!!

[WaitingforJacob]

Our docs were signed for. We used the Express envelopes and it worked out fine.

Tip: We used a plastic "envelope" to ship all of our docs in and put this is the Express envelope. I think you can find these at staples. They are transparent, but come in clear and other colors. The top folds over and a string is wrapped around to hold them in place...you know, like those orange inter-office envelopes. Probably silly, but I figured if they were in a bright yellow folder, they would stand out more on someone's desk! Also, the plastic is somewhat stiff, so it will help protect against bending, creasing and other damage etc.

I used the same plastic envelopes for shipping the completed dossier and each copy to the agency as well.

Good luck today!

[ddhuab]

I had thought of wrapping them up in a plastic shopping bag, but that is a much better idea (and my documents won't look like trash!). Fortunately/unfortunately, I am moving at a VERY slow pace today, and was just about to head to the post office when a friend called. I will stop by Staples on the way to the P0.

(we were actually more worried about the weather conditions upon RETURN of our mailer... we live in a growing community that was recently a "rural route" and probably still is, technically, so we don't have "real" full-time postal employees delivering our mail, and it doesn't always come at the same time each day, etc. We don't even seem to have a "real" post office, as it is closed on Wednesdays! So, I have to drive out of the "city" to neighboring communities and their large post offices).

Thanks again for all the help! It really puts my mind at ease!

D.

[Lilac girl]

I totally understand the stress involved when mailing these precious documents!! I have an interesting tidbit of info to share w/ you all.

My local post office is staffed w/ very nice people, but this one worker in particular is very kind and always explains things to be thoroughly (even if there's a line in back of me). And believe me, I've asked the same questions more than once! Anyway, my agency is of the opiniont that FedEx is best, but you know what I found out? If you send something via express mail, guess who carries it?? Yep, FedEx. Interesting, huh? That should save you a few bucks and give you piece of mind.

Good luck!

[ddhuab]

Well, I am not thinking or typing very clearly, as my antihistimine has me feeling kind of wonky.

Anyway, I rushed to go out to Staples for a plastic envelope, and turned the wrong way to go to Staples (and the wrong way for the Post Office, too)... so I stopped at a pharmacy for cold medicine, the envelope, and kleenex. Well, they didn't have EXACTLY what I wanted, so I bought three unwanted things, then swung by Wally World (ykwim) where I found EXACTLY what I needed for 88cents.

So... off to the post office. Everyone was VERY nice there, and immediately jumped to give me advice on how to mail the documents, although I had already figured that out. (I was going to express mail it, then at the last minute decided to just listen to them and Priority Mail it -- this takes extra days, but my agency didn't think I needed to bother with next day delivery options). I have tracking numbers for everything, and when the "document protector" envelope did not fit in the flat-rate cardboard envelope mailer, they just took everything out and put it in a "bag," which was actually just a big envelope. Total cost for priority mail and insurance was $13.00.

I did make one mistake: I wanted to insure my documents, but the postal person told me generally they do not insure documents, because they are replaceable. I DID manage to tell him it would cost me money to replace them, as some were certified bc's, etc., so he said OK and I insured it for $70 both ways.... not even thinking clearly that upon return trip from Miami, these documents and their authetications, etc. will have cost me around $400... so please pray my documents don't get lost, especially on the return trip.

Believe me, I will total up my receipts and bring them when I ship the dossier off to my agency (now that one I will send either Express or Fed-Ex next day, to ensure the documents arrive on a business day). Hopefully by the end of next week, I will have the complete dossier off to my agency, so that I can officially be "paper ready" and waiting for a referral!

Well, at least for a few days I can "forget" about the adoption and worry about being a happy, pretty bridesmaid, organizing my files, and pulling out my text books.... that is, after I finish putting together my "dossier pictures"... but right now, I just need a NAP!

Thanks again for all your help and support. It REALLY made a difference.

I LOVE THIS FORUM!

D.

[DPline]

Glad to hear it all worked out in the end. Hope the nap helps and you are feeling better soon! (And your documents are back to you in record time!)