The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced important changes regarding international postal money orders, particularly affecting transactions with several Caribbean nations and Trinidad and Tobago. If you frequently use money orders from the post office for international transactions, especially with these regions, it’s crucial to understand these updates to ensure your funds are processed smoothly.
Key Changes for Caribbean Countries (Effective October 1, 2022)
As of October 1, 2022, significant changes have been implemented concerning international postal money orders with the following Caribbean countries:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- British Virgin Islands
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Montserrat
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Post offices in these countries will no longer cash international postal money orders issued by the USPS. Conversely, U.S. Post Offices will also stop cashing international postal money orders originating from these Caribbean postal administrations.
What does this mean for you? If you possess an international postal money order issued by any of these Caribbean nations, you must cash it at a U.S. Post Office facility. It’s important to do this before the validity date printed on the money order, or by October 1, 2022, whichever date comes first. Even if you miss this October 1st deadline, USPS-issued international postal money orders related to these countries can still be redeemed at a U.S. Post Office for their face value after this date.
Changes for Trinidad and Tobago (Effective January 1, 2023)
A similar policy change took effect on January 1, 2023, for transactions involving Trinidad and Tobago. From this date:
- U.S. Post Offices stopped cashing international postal money orders issued from Trinidad and Tobago.
- The Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (TTPost) ceased cashing international postal money orders issued by the USPS.
Furthermore, TTPost had already stopped selling international postal money orders destined for the United States from January 1, 2022, and the USPS stopped selling international postal money orders destined for Trinidad and Tobago on the same date.
What does this mean for you? If you hold an international postal money order issued by TTPost, it must be cashed at a U.S. Post Office before its validity date or by January 1, 2023, whichever is earlier. Similar to the Caribbean countries’ policy, USPS-issued international postal money orders for Trinidad and Tobago can still be redeemed at a U.S. Post Office at face value even after the January 1, 2023, deadline.
Key Takeaway for Money Orders from the Post Office
These policy updates are essential for anyone dealing with international money orders from the post office, especially those involving the listed Caribbean countries and Trinidad and Tobago. Ensure you are aware of the deadlines and take necessary actions to cash your money orders at a U.S. Post Office facility within the stipulated timeframes to avoid any inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns, it is always best to contact your local Post Office for clarification.
