Are there delays with UPS/Fed-Ex during the holiday season?

[ArkiStan]

I'm currently living overseas and getting ready to send in some grad school applications to the US by the end of december. I'm really behind and I need every extra day I can get to prepare the applications. However, I understand that there is some amount of delay when using regular US Postal Mail during the holiday season. So I'm curious:

1. How many days of delay should I expect in late december if I use regular US postal mail?

2. Should I also expect delays if I use specialized postal services such as UPS, Fed-Ex or DHL?

3. Will these delays continue into early January?? (some apps are due Jan 15)

[Jeffbx]

This may help - USPS mailing dates for international locations:

http://www.usps.com/holiday/intldeadlines.htm

[nickel]

MAIL IT OUT TODAY!

i mailed out my secretsanta gift yesterday

[ArkiStan]

jeffbx that's good info thanks!

now I just need some clues on the other guys (UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL, etc...)

[Maarchk]

I imagine that their sites will tell you how much for how many days... Just try not to wait till that last possible date... There was a shipping error last year with a bunch of express mail and an ivy league school. The packages all showed up a day late and the college rejected them even though the carrier admitted to fault. The school said, they knew the date, and they should have been on time... So dont wait till the last minute!!!

[whitak24]

i think it depends on the service. for example, if you pay for 2nd-day international service, i think UPS et al will get it there on time.

but i don't have direct experience with it.

[Airencracken]

There are often delays, just because everything is so F*ed up. Trust me. I work at UPS.