Question by Morganie5: How do I send a letter to Russia from the US?
It’s not a big package but simply an envelope with a tiny amount of cash. The cash is not a large amount at all, so I’m not worried about it being lost. I have sent similar letters to people in the US by simply putting the recipient’s address and my address and a stamp on the envelope and putting it in my mailbox. Do I do the same for sending to Russia, except that I put the Russian address? If I need to pay extra money or attach extra stamps, how much more? Could someone outline all the details of sending a letter to Russia? Thank you.
Answers and Views:
Answer by Laco S
I would just take the letter to the post office, let them figure out the correct postage (since it depends on the size, weight, and thickness of the envelope and of course the destination). If you want to find out the postage yourself then use the USPS’s postage price calculator at https://postcalc.usps.com/ Just don’t forget to include your return address in case you don’t put enough postage on the envelope at least it gets returned back to you.
Answer by arsanlupin
Write the address in Russia exactly as the instructions tell you. Postage for the 1st ounce of a 1st Class letter is $ 0.98; subsequent ounces are $ 0.84 each.
It is forbidden by law – both in the USA and in Russia – to put currency of any kind in the mail. While some of the other answerers give tips on smuggling currency, and some of them might be effective, I would advise against it. It will not be lost – it will be confiscated. It is possible that the entire mailing will “disappear” – especially if you make it difficult for their customs agency to search the contents.
If you want to send money to Russia use Western Union.
Answer by Brooke
as the law of courier, you cant send any cash through courier, you have to send cross chq.
Answer by Mendeleyev
Best to use Cyrillic address on outside for the letter. US postal regs require that the bottom line be in English. Example of the Russian format with the US postal reg line at the bottom:
Russia 127555
Moscow
123 Main Street
Pushkin, Alexander Sergeivich
Moscow Russia 127555
the cash goes Western Union.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Maya Rapp says
I just called the Post Office, and I’m pretty sure she’s wrong, but she told me it was only $1.20 to send a letter first class to Russia. She was kind of shirty, as apparently I called after hours. I’m just going to go on my regular trip to town next week and find out at the main branch.