An international distribution center is a postal facility that helps to dispatch mail coming and going from foreign countries. These centers are equipped with numerous safety procedures, including customs checkpoints. International distribution centers are different from local postal facilities as a result.
One of the more common international distribution centers your mail may pass through is the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center. Located in New York City, this center facilitates the transportation of thousands of international and national packages alike.
To learn more about the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center, read on. This article gives you a good overview of the postal facility and what to expect if your international parcel goes through it.
Keep reading for more.
About the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center
Simply put, the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center is a post office where people can send or receive international mail. When a parcel arrives at the distribution center and is sent off into the United States, the USPS (United States Postal Service) provides a tracking ID for convenience.
Location
When most people see that the distribution center is located in Jamaica, they automatically assume that it is in the tropical country. However, this distribution center is located in New York City, New York. Its address is as follows:
8840 164th St.
Queens, NY 11432
If you aren’t familiar with Queens, New York, it is a borough of New York City, just like the Bronx or Manhattan. The fact that this distribution center is located in New York City is not a coincidence.
New York City gives the distribution center easy access to international transportation via major airports and harbors. In other words, this distribution center is placed in the location it is because it is super convenient for international postal services.
In fact, one of the five United States International Service Centers is located in New York City for the same reason.
Shipping Locations
As an international distribution center, the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center is designed to quickly handle parcels addressed to or from international locations.
Some of the most common addresses listed on packages that come through this distribution center are located in the States, Canada, China, and Australia. However, the center can handle many other locations as well.
Reliability
The Jamaica NY International Distribution Center is considered one of the most reliable facilities. Because it is one of the larger international facilities, it is equipped with all of the USPS’s resources and a rather thorough shipping and receiving process.
Generally speaking, you can trust that your package will arrive at your location in a timely and efficient manner when it goes through the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center.
Pandemic Slows Down Efficiency
That being said, there are some times when the distribution center may cause a hold-up in your postal endeavors. For example, many packages that went through the center during the height of the pandemic were put on hold due to international shipping issues.
These issues were not caused by the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center. Instead, the packages simply got retained at the center until they could be shipped.
Because so many packages were put on hold, packages that were not detained by the pandemic still experienced longer processing times. Because the center was overcrowded with packages on hold, parcels not on hold had to wait until the center could process them.
Like before, this was not an issue or fault of Jamaica NY International Distribution Center exclusively. All international distribution centers went through the same troubles during this time.
Slower Processing Times During Holidays
Longer processing times and reduced efficiency are also relatively common during postal highs, such as during the holidays. These longer processing times are mostly due to the influx of people using the Postal Service, to begin with. Once again, this is an issue for all international centers during this time, not just the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center.
How Long Do Packages Wait At The Jamaica NY International Distribution Center
The exact length of time that a package waits at the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center depends on a number of factors, such as the contents of the container, time of year, weather, and more.
The average wait time at the center is 4 days. Because this is simply the average wait time, your package could wait shorter or longer at the center. The minimum wait time is under an hour, whereas the maximum recorded wait time was 334 days and three hours – talk about a crazy long wait!
If the package has already been cleared at an international service center, your package won’t wait at the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center as long.
Average Delivery Time From Popular Destinations To Jamaica NY International Distribution Center
Although packages that arrive at the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center can come from a number of locations, some are more popular than others. The most common places the packages come from include ICS New York, Jersey City NJ Network Distribution Center, and Metro NY Distribute. Here are the average times between the two points:
- ISC New York NY (USPS): 11 hrs.
- Jersey City NJ Network Distribution Center: 18 hrs.
- Metro NY Distribution Center: 20 hrs.
Average Delivery Time To Popular Destinations From Jamaica NY International Distribution Center
Just as certain locations are more frequent previous points for the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center, some locations are more common after the packages arrive. Frequent next points include New York, Canada, and Newark. Here is the estimated time between the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center and the next city point:
- New York: 1 day, 16 hrs.
- Canada: 5 days, 22 hrs.
- Newark: 1 day, 9 hrs.
What Are The Most Popular Jamaica NY International Distribution Center Statuses?
If you are tracking your packages, several statuses can show up whenever they pass through the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center.
- Arrived at Jamaica NY International Distribution Center: Your package simply arrived at the center and is waiting to be processed and sent out.
- Accepted at Jamaica NY International Distribution Center: Means the same thing as “Arrived at Jamaica NY International Distribution Center.”
- Processed through Jamaica NY International Distribution Center: Your package has arrived and been processed through the center, but it is still waiting to be departed for its next location.
- Departed Jamaica NY International Distribution Center: Your package has arrived, been processed through, and shipped from the center. It is heading to its next location.
When your package goes through the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center, all of the statuses are provided by the US Postal Service. Once the package arrives in a different country, all remaining statuses are provided by that country.
What Happens If A Package Is Stuck At The Jamaica NY International Distribution Center
Occasionally, a package can become stuck at the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center. There are several reasons why this happens. Let’s take a look at the most common culprits.
Pandemic
As we already learned, the pandemic has been slowing many international distribution centers. Because of the pandemic, countries are more cautious about what they are accepting. As a result, your package may wait longer at the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center during this time.
As more packages are put on hold, the issue becomes even worse. Storing mail is an inefficient system. Once packages start stacking up, efficiency decreases, placing them on hold even longer.
Weather
Serious weather conditions can halt the delivery process, causing your package to become stuck. Bad weather conditions around the distribution center or the final destination can cause this to happen. As soon as the bad weather clears up, your package will be shipped.
Customs
A more common reason that packages are held up at the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center is customs. If a package is shipped internationally, the package undergoes rigorous checkpoints and processing to ensure legality.
If you or the sender provided inefficient information for customs, it can take longer for them to process the package. This is especially true if the package is shipped for commercial reasons.
Can Items Be Held At The Jamaica NY International Distribution Center?
Yes, items can be held at the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center. Most commonly, issues with customs will cause the center to hold your items.
If your package is being held due to customs reasons, they will try to get in contact with you to rectify the issue. However, incorrect information about yourself can make it difficult for them to contact you quickly.
Products being shipped to and from China especially have issues with being held up at customs. Research shipping policies of the country you are sending a package to so that your package contains all of the right information and contents.
FAQs
How long does it take for a package to arrive in Canada from Jamaica NY?
It takes approximately 5 days and 22 hours for a package to be delivered from the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center to Canada. That exact time may change based on different circumstances, such as the weather and customs. You will also need to add a couple more days to the estimation for the product to be delivered to you.
How long does it take for a package to arrive in Australia from Jamaica NY?
Because Australia is very far away from New York City, you will have to wait weeks for the package to arrive in Australia. Most people report their packages arriving in Australia in two to four weeks when being shipped from the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center.
Although it is possible for packages to arrive within two weeks, most Australian natives note that it takes closer to a month for packages to arrive from the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center.
Keep in mind that your location in Australia will drastically affect how long it takes for international packages from the United States to arrive.
Does Jamaica NY International Distribution deliver to the US?
Yes. The Jamaica NY International Distribution Center delivers to and from the United States. It is located in New York City, New York, which means its tracking ID is provided by the United States Postal Service once it arrives at United States facility.
What does “Processed through Jamaica NY International Distribution Center” mean?
If your status simply says, “processed through Jamaica NY International Distribution Center,” it has likely finished the processing period, but it is still waiting to be shipped. In other words, it has been cleared by the postal facility, but it hasn’t left yet.
It is possible that your package has to wait at the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center. Because only so many packages can be shipped at a time, they are sent out in a first-come, first-serve or priority order.
If the status is followed up with another that says “departed Jamaica NY International Distribution Center” or some other similar notice, it means that the package has completely left the facility and is on its way to the next.
How to contact the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center
If you are having trouble with your package, you can contact the Jamaica NY International Distribution Center through the following numbers:
- Phone: 718-990-1090
- Toll-Free: 1-800-Ask-USPS (275-8777)
If you live in close proximity to the location, you could also visit it yourself. Retail hours are open between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 AM through 3:00 PM Saturday. Retail hours are closed on Sunday.
You could also visit during lobby hours. The lobby is open between 7:00 AM and 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and 7:00 AM through 3:00 PM Saturday. The lobby is also closed on Sunday.
Final Thoughts
The Jamaica NY International Distribution Center is a facility that can send and receive international packages. Processing times will depend on independent factors. If you’re tired of waiting for your international mail to arrive, you could always try out US Global Mail’s Virtual Mailbox instead. The Virtual Mailbox removes junk mail and provides all of your digital mail in a convenient location.
