How do I find out the two-letter abbreviation of a state?

The United States Postal Service maintains a list of official abbreviations.

• State abbreviations

How do I mail alcohol to the United States?

You can't. According to Publication 52 Hazardous, restricted, & perishable mail of the United States Postal Service, “Intoxicating liquors having 0.5 percent or more alcoholic content are nonmailable. This includes taxable liquors with 3.2 percent or less alcohol, as well as those obtained under a prescription or as a collector's item. The prohibition of the mailing of intoxicating liquors is contained in federal law (18 U.S.C. 1716).”

• More FAQs from the U.S. Postal Service

How do I mail food to the United States?

The rules for mailing food to the United States changed in December 2003. The new ruling requires that commercial shippers who wish to send food to the U.S.A. must electronically file a prior notice with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A confirmation of the FDA receipt of prior notice must be presented to Australia Post along with the parcel.

Although this ruling applies to non-commercial shippers as well, a revised Compliance Policy Guide issued 24 June 2004, states that “no action” will be taken if a non-commercial individual shipper sends food to either him/herself, another family member or a friend. This means that you may continue to send food products to the United States without completing the prior notice.

This requirement does not apply to food that is made by an individual in his/her home and sent by that individual as a personal gift (for non-business reasons) to an individual in the United States.

• FDA actions on new bioterrorism legislation
• Prior notice of imported foods
• More FAQs from the U.S. Postal Service