Need Shipping Advice from the US!

[Emily RugBurn]

Hey Folks,

Thanks again to everyone who contributes to this site -- after my initial post waaaay back in December of `09, I am finally ready to submit my husband's application. Every question I had during the "filling out forms" process was answered in the forums here, and I didn't even need to make any additional posts -- until now!

My husband (US citizen) and I (Canadian citizen) live in NY (we are applying outland). I was just filling out a FedEx waybill for delivery to the Case Processing Center in Mississauga, when I realized that neither FedEx (nor DHL, nor UPS) delivers to P.O. Boxes! Doh!

Can anyone recommend a traceable mailing service from within the US that will deliver to a Canadian P.O. Box? I have sent things (mainly gifts) to private residences in Canada from the US many times via USPS, but once the package crosses the border, it is no longer traceable and they cannot confirm delivery. I have lost a few packages this way over the years, and so I am unwilling to send the application this way.

I suppose I can always FedEx the application to my mom (in Canada) and have her mail it to Mississauga from within Canada, but time is of the essence (not much time left on the police clearance!) and I was planning on FedExing it today for delivery tomorrow.

The CIC website lists a "Courier Address" on it's website, but I hesitate to send it there since the address specified for our application is "P.O. Box 3000, Station A".

Any suggestions or advice are welcome!!

And big thanks again to everyone!!

~ EmRb

 

[can_usa_97]

I wanted to do FedEx, I guess there is an address floating around here that can be used with them. A real address. I didn't know that till after I'd mailed mine via the USPS to the PO Box.

That said, it did arrive safely - two actually. My kids to Nova Soctia for their ctiizen certificates and my application to Mississauga safely and they were fully trackable to the moment they were delivered. I saw them leave every station and enter customs, leave, ect.

 

[sbwv09]

Hi there.. even if you mailed it from within Canada, you wouldn't be able to get confirmation or anything from a PO box. Mississauga has a courier address that you should use:

2 Robert Speck Parkway,
Suite 1200
Mississauga, ON
L4Z 1H8

 

[minna]

the courier address is a "real" address.

I sent my application there and it was signed for and trackable.

 

[Emily RugBurn]

Thank you, minna -- I was waiting to hear from someone who successfully sent their application to the Robert Speck Pkwy "courier address"!

I'm off to FedEx!! Woo hoo!! ;D

 

[YorkFactory]

I sent mine (to the P.O. box address) via the international equivalent of USPS Express Mail, which gives you signature confirmation and allows you to track it all the way there (though you may have to try the tracking number both on usps.com and canadapost.ca).

 

[Emily RugBurn]

Thanks for the info, YorkFactory. Before I commit to FedEx, I may swing by the post office and ask them about this service.

I had a bad experience once where a postal worker told me that a package to Canada was traceable, but neglected to tell me that it wasn't traceable once it crossed the border, and therefore there was no deliver confirmation, either (and, of course, it did not reach it's destination). I'll definitely look further into this service, though. It appears to be the same price as FedEx, but if they can deliver to the P.O. Box address, I'd certainly prefer that.

 

[can_usa_97]

I sent mine (to the P.O. box address) via the international equivalent of USPS Express Mail, which gives you signature confirmation and allows you to track it all the way there (though you may have to try the tracking number both on usps.com and canadapost.ca).

That is how mine was sent!

 

[Emily RugBurn]

Thanks for chiming in, can_usa_97 -- that's another vote for the USPS Int'l Express Mail service! Seems like that is probably the best way to go.

Off to Staples to photocopy the entire package, and then off to the post office (for real, this time)!

Thanks, all!

~ EmRB

 

[can_usa_97]

Good luck!

 

[nyssa]

I plan on using USPS Express Mail too in a Flat-Rate Medium Size box to the 2 Robert Speck Parkway address. I think it takes 3-4 days to arrive?

 

[Emily RugBurn]

@nyssa -- If you are going to use the International Express Mail service, you don't have to use the courier address; you can send it directly to the P.O. Box address.

 

[nyssa]

Really? USPS just goes right to the PO Box? I thought maybe because I was sending it in a medium sized box rather than an envelope I had to send it to the other one because it won't fit in a PO Box.

 

[heatherusa]

Hey Folks,

Thanks again to everyone who contributes to this site -- after my initial post waaaay back in December of `09, I am finally ready to submit my husband's application. Every question I had during the "filling out forms" process was answered in the forums here, and I didn't even need to make any additional posts -- until now!

My husband (US citizen) and I (Canadian citizen) live in NY (we are applying outland). I was just filling out a FedEx waybill for delivery to the Case Processing Center in Mississauga, when I realized that neither FedEx (nor DHL, nor UPS) delivers to P.O. Boxes! Doh!

Can anyone recommend a traceable mailing service from within the US that will deliver to a Canadian P.O. Box? I have sent things (mainly gifts) to private residences in Canada from the US many times via USPS, but once the package crosses the border, it is no longer traceable and they cannot confirm delivery. I have lost a few packages this way over the years, and so I am unwilling to send the application this way.

I suppose I can always FedEx the application to my mom (in Canada) and have her mail it to Mississauga from within Canada, but time is of the essence (not much time left on the police clearance!) and I was planning on FedExing it today for delivery tomorrow.

The CIC website lists a "Courier Address" on it's website, but I hesitate to send it there since the address specified for our application is "P.O. Box 3000, Station A".

Any suggestions or advice are welcome!!

And big thanks again to everyone!!

~ EmRb

I am probably chiming in too late but we sent to the courier address without any problem at all. It is listed on the CIC website

 

[nyssa]

Can you send to the courier address anyway? I don't think a medium flat rate box will fit into a PO Box... any thoughts on that?