USPS form guide
PS Form 3811-A: request delivery information after a missing Return Receipt
USPS PS Form 3811-A is a Request for Delivery Information/Return Receipt After Mailing. It is used when you paid for a hard-copy Return Receipt with the original mailing but the PS Form 3811 green card did not come back. It is not a new Return Receipt purchase and it is not a form you attach to another letter.
Published Aug 10, 2026
Quick answer
Start with the mailing receipt from the original transaction. USPS says the request must show that the Return Receipt fee was paid at mailing and must be submitted within 90 days of the mailing-receipt date. A USPS accepting office verifies the receipt and completes the office-only portions of PS Form 3811-A.
When PS Form 3811-A applies
Use the form when all of these are true:
- You purchased a hard-copy Return Receipt when the item was mailed.
- The physical PS Form 3811 was not returned.
- You still have the mailing receipt and article or tracking number.
- The mailing receipt is no more than 90 days old when you make the request.
The form instructions say it is not for items sent with Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery, Adult Signature services, or insurance over $500. Ask USPS which inquiry applies if your receipt shows one of those services.
What to bring to USPS
- The original mailing receipt showing that the Return Receipt fee was paid.
- The USPS tracking or article number.
- The original recipient name and address.
- Your name, return address, and email address if USPS can provide the result electronically.
Do not guess at the article number. The accepting office compares the request with the receipt before starting the inquiry.
How the USPS inquiry works
- Present the mailing receipt and request at USPS within the 90-day window.
- A USPS employee verifies the transaction and completes the accepting-office section.
- USPS checks the electronic delivery record when one is available.
- If the record must be handled manually, the request goes to the appropriate delivery office.
- USPS returns the available delivery information or explains why no record was found.
Some sections of PS Form 3811-A are marked for accepting-office or delivery-office use. Downloading the PDF and mailing it to the original recipient does not start the correct inquiry.
PS Form 3811-A vs. PS Form 3811
| Form or record | When it is used | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| PS Form 3800 | At the time of a Certified Mail mailing | Supplies the Certified Mail receipt and article number |
| PS Form 3811 | At the time of mailing | Requests a hard-copy signed Return Receipt |
| Electronic Return Receipt | Purchased at the time of mailing | Supplies a digital delivery and signature record when available |
| PS Form 3811-A | After mailing, when the paid hard-copy receipt is missing | Starts a USPS delivery-information inquiry within the allowed period |
Can PostalForm submit PS Form 3811-A?
No. PS Form 3811-A is tied to the original USPS retail receipt and contains USPS-only processing sections. Take the receipt to USPS or contact USPS about the delivery record.
For a future PostalForm order, choose Certified Mail and any available Electronic Return Receipt option before payment. Keep the order and tracking records after the mailing is accepted.
Sources
FAQs
- Can I use PS Form 3811-A if I did not buy Return Receipt?
- No. The USPS form requires evidence that the Return Receipt fee was paid when the item was mailed.
- How long do I have to request the missing receipt information?
- The form instructions give a 90-day window from the date on the mailing receipt.
- Is PS Form 3811-A a replacement green card?
- It is an inquiry for delivery information after a paid hard-copy Return Receipt was not received. USPS may provide the available delivery record; the process does not repeat the original delivery.
- Can I send PS Form 3811-A to the recipient?
- No. The form is processed through USPS and includes sections for the accepting and delivery offices.
Ready to send it?
If the original green card is missing, use the original mailing receipt to start the inquiry with USPS. If you are planning a new mailing, compare the available Return Receipt choices before the item is sent.