Addressing Your Outgoing Mail
The USPS has adopted a standardized, easily machine readable address format. The standard is a typed or printed address that has no punctuation in the last two lines and uses standardized abbreviations for states, directionals, and street designations. To download a list of these abbreviations, go to Look Up Standard USPS Abbreviations.
To speed up receipt of your mail, remember: mail prepared in USPS standardized format can be read by USPS multi-line optical character readers and will reach its destination days faster than non-standard or hand-written mail which must be read by USPS personnel and manually bar-coded.
For more information on postal addressing standards, you may wish to download USPS Publication 28 from the USPS Postal Explorer site. Note that USPS scanners normally read just the last two lines, so be sure that the next-to-last line of your address is the Delivery Address (street or PO box) and the last line is the City, State, and ZIP. Any other address information you wish to include should be above these two lines. For example:
Dr Allan Cross (Recipient Line)
1751 S. Douglas Ave (Delivery Address Line)
Springfield VA 22162-1010 (City/State/ZIP Line)
To Locate a ZIP+4 Code
The USPS has a lookup site for ZIP codes on its web page. To find a missing or incomplete ZIP code, go to Look Up a ZIP+4 Code. You will be required to know the delivery street address and either the city and state or the 5-digit ZIP code. The site will return the ZIP+4. This is an easy way to update your mailing list, one address at a time!
Lookup sites for international postal codes can be found at Look Up International Mail Codes. Pick your country and follow instructions for accessing mail information.
Campus Mail
Campus mail should be posted in interoffice envelopes with the Name and TAMU # labeled clearly on the envelope for efficient distribution. The name and TAMU # (which you can look up here) are required for delivery. Please insure that all previous addresses have been marked out. To expedite delivery, band campus mail separately from other outgoing mail. If you are doing a large campus mailing, call Mail Services at (979) 845-4624 and have us provide you with mail trays for putting your mail in order.
Note: Large volume internal campus mailings should be prepared in TAMU # order, with all items for one TAMU # together.
Outgoing Personal Mail
Mail Service is not to be used for personal mailings. There are USPS mail drop boxes located on campus that you can use at your convenience.
USPS Delivery Confirmation
The USPS now provides Delivery Confirmation on request for Priority Mail and Package Services. Delivery Confirmation is not available at this time for regular First Class letter mail. By requesting a Delivery Confirmation number for your outgoing mail item, you will be able to receive the date and time when your items was delivered, or if it was attempted, forwarded, or returned. If you have questions about this service, call Mail Services at (979) 845-4624. To access your delivery confirmation information, go to Look Up USPS Delivery Confirmation Number and enter your Express Mail or Delivery Confirmation Number. Return receipt and restricted delivery services are available in combination with Delivery Confirmation when purchased in connection with insured mail (over $50).