What is an international coupon of the answer?
The international coupon of the answer is a voucher that can be applied for postage in any of the Universal Posttal Union (UPU) Member States. It is usually part of the correspondence, which was sent by an individual from one Member State of UPU to the beneficiary in another member country and which requires an answer. The purpose of the International Answer coupon is to allow the sender to pay the postage fees for the recipient's response without difficulty to obtain foreign stamps or send the currency by mail.
When the individual sends a correspondence that requires a reaction to the recipient in the same country, it is usual to include a self -service stamping envelope. This system allows the sender to cover the postage fees for the recipient's response. However, if correspondence should be sent to the recipient in a foreign country, self -service stamp envelopes are not useful because postage stamps cannot be used to send mail from the outside of the country that issued them. Getting stamps that are valid in the country of the recipient can be difficult and the currency sent by mail can be lostor stolen. Therefore, another way of paying for international postage is necessary.
The International Answer System suggested UPU in 1906 as a solution to this problem. Within this system, an individual in one of the 188 UPU Member Nations can buy an international coupon answers from his country's postal service. The coupon is then closed by a piece of mail sent to the recipient in another UPU member country. This coupon can then be replaced at the recipient's post office for grades with which he can send his answer.
All members of UPU nations are obliged to issue postage in exchange for valid international coupons of the answer. However, it should be noted that the Member Nations are not obliged coupons and some have decided. Even in countries selling coupons, such as the US, coupons can only be available in the main post offices or in offices where coupons are regularly demanding. Information about the availability of international answerYou can usually find a coupon on the website of the UPU of the Member Nations.
New international answers are issued at three -year intervals. Coupons expire at the end of each three -year period. The coupon holders should take care of noticing the expiry date printed on their coupons and should either use coupons or replace them with new before expiry.