"I Tried Three Post Offices"; Americans Abroad Say Sending Mail to U.S. Is Now Nearly Impossible

CLEVELAND 13 NEWS (WCTU) — A U.S. customs rule change has not only disrupted global parcel shipments but also triggered widespread confusion and misinformation in international post offices, particularly in France. The recent termination of the “de minimis” exemption on August 29, 2025, has led to inconsistent enforcement of mail restrictions, with some Americans abroad reporting blocked access even to basic letter mailing.

One American living in France, who documented her experience on TikTok, said she was turned away at two separate La Poste locations when trying to send Halloween cards to her family in the United States. Both offices told her all mail, including letters, was barred from being sent due to new tariffs and customs rules. “They were so confident,” she said in a video posted on October 13. “They told me there was absolutely no way.”

The woman, described escalating efforts to verify what was allowed under the new policy. She eventually succeeded at a third location after showing a supervisor La Poste’s official guidance, which states that while parcels and goods shipments are suspended, documents and letters should still be processed. “She was able to get on the computer and somehow, some way, mail my letters,” she said. “It took a lot of asking questions and showing the website.”

La Poste suspended all goods and parcel shipments to the United States beginning August 25, 2025, citing an inability to comply with new U.S. customs documentation and duties. The policy allowed an exception for personal gifts under €100 and made a distinction between packages and non-commercial letter mail. Still, widespread miscommunication among frontline staff has resulted in inconsistent enforcement.

“This is not just happening in France,” she said in another video. “People are telling me they cannot mail [from] other places, too.” Her TikTok posts prompted dozens of responses from others experiencing similar rejections, despite public-facing information indicating that document mail remains authorized.

The inconsistencies highlight the impact of inadequate employee training and a lack of uniform implementation in global postal networks. With some staff refusing to mail even basic correspondence and others proceeding after customer insistence, Americans abroad face unpredictable barriers in mailing anything to the U.S. “Had I not gone to a third location and kept pressing them, I would have still believed that I could not mail anything to the U.S.,” she said.

The confusion also raises concerns about time-sensitive communications, such as absentee ballots or legal documents. “If I hadn’t just kept pursuing this… I might never have been able to mail my cards,” she said, adding that while her letters were not urgent, others could face serious consequences. She has since contacted the U.S. consulate and Democrats Abroad for clarification.

Some commenters on her videos speculated about broader issues, including U.S. tariffs introduced under the Trump administration and whether the recent U.S. government shutdown affected USPS operations. Others questioned whether her original TikTok video had been suppressed, citing viewing issues in the United States, though she reported no takedown notice and continued to see it live from France.

Despite criticism accusing her of spreading misinformation, she stood by her reporting and emphasized the need for public updates rather than silence. “I’m not going to take it down,” she said. “I took an oath to uphold a certain level of credibility… I’ve been posting several updates.”

While major courier companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL appear unaffected, the postal suspension remains in place for many countries. Postal operators in Germany, the UK, Japan, Australia, and several others have reported similar restrictions. Most cite the short lead time and complexity of adapting IT systems and customs protocols as the primary cause for the disruption.

As of now, her letters have left her possession, stamped and accepted by La Poste, though she remains uncertain whether they will ultimately arrive. “Until those letters are in the hands of my loved ones in the U.S., I’m going to keep following this,” she said.

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