39 USC § 602 - Foreign letters out of the mails

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t39/s602"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "39 USC § 602 - Foreign letters out of the mails"
title_number: 39
title_name: "POSTAL SERVICE"
section_number: "602"
section_name: "Foreign letters out of the mails"
chapter_number: 6
chapter_name: "PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF LETTERS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "GENERAL"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 727.)"
---


# § 602. Foreign letters out of the mails

**(a)** Except as provided in section 601 of this title, the master of a vessel departing from the United States for foreign ports may not receive on board or transport any letter which originated in the United States that—

**(1)** has not been regularly received from a United States post office; or

**(2)** does not relate to the cargo of the vessel.

**(b)** The officer of the port empowered to grant clearances shall require from the master of such a vessel, as a condition of clearance, an oath that he does not have under his care or control, and will not receive or transport, any letter contrary to the provisions of this section.

**(c)** Except as provided in section 1699 of title 18, the master of a vessel arriving at a port of the United States carrying letters not regularly in the mails shall deposit them in the post office at the port of arrival.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 727.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See , set out as a note preceding .