I mailed a normal letter sized envelope to a US company at a main mail office on the morning of July 15th. Tracked mail, but have misplaced the receipt with the tracking number. The company I mailed it will have it on my terminal in their website when it is documented as arrived. It still hasn't arrived.

13 days seems a bit long for mail to the US.

Is this normal?

I get tax slips from the Canadian gov't every year. The date stamp proves that it takes just over 1 month!

9 minutes ago, jaideedave said:

I get tax slips from the Canadian gov't every year. The date stamp proves that it takes just over 1 month!

Snail Mail indeed.

Rare exceptions, but most mail to & from, USA to East coast hasn't taken 2 weeks. More like 10 or 11 days.

Although, can't say I've mailed or received anything in quite some time. Birthday card last Dec. but didn't take note when sent/arrived.

Received a letter yesterday from the US. It was postmarked July 10th. 32 days in transit. Normal delivery time is usually around ten days.

On 7/28/2026 at 4:34 PM, Packer said:

I mailed a normal letter sized envelope to a US company at a main mail office on the morning of July 15th. Tracked mail, but have misplaced the receipt with the tracking number. The company I mailed it will have it on my terminal in their website when it is documented as arrived. It still hasn't arrived.

13 days seems a bit long for mail to the US.

Is this normal?

If this was just normal tracking and not EMS, it gets held up at the arriving postal area, if New York it will always get hung up. Some times it is better just to send the cheapest way and that usually takes two to three weeks

On 8/11/2026 at 7:33 PM, KhunLA said:

Rare exceptions, but most mail to & from, USA to East coast hasn't taken 2 weeks. More like 10 or 11 days.

Although, can't say I've mailed or received anything in quite some time. Birthday card last Dec. but didn't take note when sent/arrived.

But he is using tracking this always slows it down

51 minutes ago, flexomike said:

But he is using tracking this always slows it down

That depends, if express tracking, or just registered w/ signature. Express gets expedited, and has to be loaded, or the airlines (USA) gets a fine.

If not enough time to load the mail, it stays on the tarmac. If express mail is at the gate, it gets loaded on AC, or you get a fine. And the USPS has people checking to make sure no express is left behind at the gate after departure.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

That depends, if express tracking, or just registered w/ signature. Express gets expedited, and has to be loaded, or the airlines (USA) gets a fine.

If not enough time to load the mail, it stays on the tarmac. If express mail is at the gate, it gets loaded on AC, or you get a fine. And the USPS has people checking to make sure no express is left behind at the gate after departure.

We are just talking about no tracking, or cheap tracking EMS is very expensive and yes it will generally get there in about five working days.

8 minutes ago, flexomike said:

We are just talking about no tracking, or cheap tracking EMS is very expensive and yes it will generally get there in about five working days.

That's not what I replied to, as you stated ...

... "But he is using tracking this always slows it down" ...

I did make the distinction of just a signature, not tracked, to more expensive 'tracked'.

If lucky, and no extra cost, I've had things arrive as fast as expressed items. If space on the AC, then it all goes the same time.

A lot depends on when mailed and from where. If after last truck leaving, a letter mailed early morning may make a flight, that an express letter sent late afternoon missed the last truck out.

Edited August 15Aug 15 by KhunLA