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Allie - I once mailed a book to military...I filled out the online form that the person provided me, and then was told by my PO that it didn't matter, I had to fill it out again in front of her.  I can't remember the exact reason why I had to do that, but I am relatively certain you can't just fill it out and then drop it in a blue box.  I think it has to be handed to the PO.  Sorry.

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Allie,

I have hard copies of the forms and neither 2976 or 2976-A require a phone number.  Maybe it's just the online forms that require it.  

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I can't believe they won't let you fill it out while you're at the counter!  That is really annoying.  If I were you, I'd fill out the online one anyway, take it up there, and then if they want it filled out again, refuse to leave the line while you are filling it out, based on the fact that you already filled out their form.  (Okay, well, in my fantasy world, I'd have enough guts to do that.)

Allie, please let me know if you have any problems, I have my first one  to mail also.

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At my local post office the person at the counter gives me the forms, and I move to the end of the counter to fill them out while he/she helps the next person in line.  When I finish filling them out, I go back to the counter (without waiting in line again) and finish the process.  It's always been really easy. 

At our Post Office, the forms are available in the lobby  just like all the other forms and you can fill it out before going to the counter. You can also ask for some extras so they will be ready when you go to the PO.  PO clerks love for the customer to everything ready in one trip to the counter.

I've filled out these forms many times.  The online one is just terrible - and a lot of the fields are "N/A" for military shipments anyway.  It's easier to just go in and grab a form.  At my PO they are out - you don't have to wait in line to get one.  It is a multi-part form, but it's pretty self-explanatory, and I always found the clerks willing to help me with anything I didn't understand.

It's really not a hard form.  I keep a few in the house now just so I can get them filled out before I go down there.

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I just sent a CD to an APO address. I just filled in a little green custom sticker at the PO. It just wanted content, weight and value on it. i didn't have to provide any other information.

I'm a window clerk at the post office, and i'd be happy to give my input on this matter (and any other postal questions anyone has). The forms are available at any post office, and you should be able to pick up a few to have on hand for this situation. They don't let you stand at the window to fill out the form for the simple reason that they can see the customers in line behind you getting angry and impatient. We're told to keep the line moving as fast as possible, while providing each customer with the time and services they need. If you step over to the side to fill out the form, I can wait on 3 or 4 other customers while you do it. If a clerk tells you to get back in line after you've filled out the form, tell them no! You should never have to go through the line more than once in a single visit to the post office. If they try to make you go through again, ask to see the manager, and complain.

Thanks, Richard. I did manage to fill out the form online and I have it all done and printed and everything. :)

And now because I have to include this form, I can't drop my prepaid packages off at the door where I usually do, I suppose? They allow the customers that have multiple packages with prepaid (not stamps) postage to hand them to someone at the bulkmail door, but they probably won't let me do that with the form will they? Hmmm.... maybe I'll call.

Just so you all know, the online form hasn't been updated in quite a while and some of the items on it are no longer accurate.  Including how many pages it has to be.  I just mailed a box of books to my niece's husband in Iraq and used the online form.  When I brought it to the PO they showed me the most recent forms and they were quite different from the online ones!  USPS isn't all that great about updating their website.

I usually keep the forms on hand and fill them out at home.  According to the clerks at my PO that's the best way to do it and they said there is no requirement stating you have to fill it out in front of them. 

You can also order the forms online, and they'll send them to you.  No charge. 

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I've mailed to an APO (last 2 weeks), and did not need a customs form.   You really shouldn't need one - APO = American Post Office. 

APO stands for Army Post Office and FPO stands for Fleet Post Office.

Here's a link for an explanation of the military mail process in case anyone is interested Military Mail explanation

I mail often to APO - always have to have a custom form - the PO gives them to me to keep and fill out at home.      

I'm still confused about  which forms are needed and when for packages to APO, FPO, and just plain international.  There are two:

• small green cardstock card
• multi-part white form

At the PO I usually use, they said that it depends upon the weight of the item or the value of the items in the package or how it will be sent  that determines which form should be used.  It seems as if I never get the same answer twice when I ask.  My PO won't give out the self-stick clear envelope needed to attach the white form unless you have your package with you -- a reason to make me forego mailing to anybody outside the US.  I would imagine that too many people have requested them to save on the cost of tape or self-stick sheets for their outgoing packages. 

I have a package to mail to Canada this week and also some flat rate envelopes to mail to APO (Iraq).  I'd love to have the correct forms filled in before I get there so I only have to wait in line because you have to hand over International mail to a USPS clerk. 

I'd also love it if I could include these packages along with a carrier pickup that includes Priority Mail.  I think you can just hand it to the carrier (not leave it out for him) if you have the correct forms filled out an ready to go.

I was told which form you use is based on package weight.  When I have mailed to Canada or to an APO with a package that was under 1 lb I didn't need a form at all.  I think the green form is ok until your package reaches 3 or 5 lbs.  Sorry, I can't remember which, and I looked on both the short and long form and couldn't find the weight restriction.

Our PO requires the short green form for anything other than a letter and weighing up to one pound. The white form is required for packages over a pound.