USPS (United States Postal Service)

USPS (United States Postal Service) is the official national postal service of the United States. It operates independently but is managed under the authority of the federal government. Established in 1775, USPS is one of America’s oldest institutions, with the mission of providing mail and package delivery services nationwide and internationally.

🔹 Key Highlights of USPS

1. Nationwide Coverage

• Delivers to every address in the U.S., including remote areas, islands, and rural regions.

• Operates over 31,000 post office locations across the country.

2. Variety of Services

USPS offers a wide range of shipping options to meet different delivery needs:

ServiceDelivery TimeTrackingFirst-Class Mail1–5 daysYesPriority Mail1–3 daysYesPriority Mail Express1–2 daysYesMedia Mail2–8 daysYesParcel Select Ground2–8 daysYes

3. Digital Services

• Informed Delivery: Preview incoming mail and track packages online.

• USPS Tracking: Track shipments 24/7.

• USPS.com: Purchase postage, print shipping labels, and schedule home pickups.

🔹 Advantages of USPS

• More affordable than FedEx or UPS, especially for letters and lightweight packages.

• Delivers on Saturdays (and even Sundays for Priority Mail Express).

• The primary carrier for receiving official mail — including government, banking, and visa documents.

🔹 Limitations

• Slower and less precise tracking compared to private carriers (FedEx, UPS), especially for high-value or urgent shipments.

• Tracking updates can occasionally be delayed or inaccurate.

USPS Informed Delivery

Below is a detailed guide to registering for USPS Informed Delivery — a free service that lets you preview incoming mail and track packages before they arrive.

✅ Step 1: Visit the Registration Page

Go to the official website: https://informeddelivery.usps.com

✅ Step 2: Create a USPS Account (if you don’t have one)

• Click “Sign Up for Free”

• Choose Personal Account

• Enter your personal information:

  • Full name and email address

  • Username and password

  • Security questions

✅ Step 3: Verify Your Address

USPS will check if your address is eligible for Informed Delivery.

• If eligible: You’ll proceed to the next verification step.

• If not eligible: The system will notify you, and registration cannot continue.

✅ Step 4: Verify Your Identity

USPS must confirm that you actually live at the provided address. You can verify:

• Online: By answering personal questions based on public records (e.g., past addresses).

• In person: If online verification fails, print a verification code and bring your photo ID to a nearby post office.

✅ Step 5: Complete Registration

Once verified:

• You’ll start receiving daily emails with black-and-white images of your incoming letter-size mail.

• You can also track packages using your tracking numbers.

⚠️ Notes:

• The service is only available for residential addresses in the U.S.

• It shows images only of letter-size mail (not large envelopes or parcels).

• Packages will be listed but no image will be displayed.