<p>Hi guys. I'm new here. Been following a while and just signed up.</p>
<p>I have a question regarding the financial aid intent form we have to mail in by Jan 15.
The guidelines say postmarked by 15th, so does that mean that 15th is the latest day for posting or is it the date they would have to receive it by?</p>
<p>Many thanks in advance.</p>
<p>The postmark is the dated inkstamp the post office puts on the envelope when it is received for processing. So the letter does not have to be received at Caltech by January 15, it just has to have been processed by the post office. Since January 15 is a Sunday, if you put it in the mailbox that day, even at a post office, the letter would likely not be postmarked until Monday the 16th. Mailing it prior to the mailbox pickup time on Friday will probably work, but with the post office you never can be sure.</p>
<p>If you are mailing the letter at the end of the week, the safest thing to do is bring the letter to the post office counter and ask them to hand-postmark it. Remember that only the largest post offices are open on Saturdays, and none are open on Sundays.</p>
<p>Thanks ciervo.
Forgot to mention I’m an international. And post here is so slow most overseas post takes about two weeks to reach the destination. Not to mention the time for all required documents to become available to me.</p>