Samoa

Update: This was indeed a case of confusion. The letter was not 'returned to sender' but merely 'returned for better address.' You see, the USPS has not yet updated its records to refer to the country as Samoa (as opposed to the former name Western Samoa). Click here for Samoa's response.


This envelope was not stamped with any reason why it was returned. It simply showed up.

Apparently I need to inform the USPS that Samoa is indeed a country. It may be obscure and you may have not heard of it until today but it does exist.

But hey, don't take my word for it, click on the following links and see for yourself:

CIA World Factbook entry on Samoa
A brief history of Samoa
BBC Country Profile
Official Government of Samoa website
Wikipedia
Samoa plans internet for all

Perhaps the USPS confused Samoa with the US territory of American Samoa. Or perhaps the USPS incorrectly still knows the country by it's former name of Western Samoa.

Either way another letter to the Postmaster General is in order and will be prepared as soon as I get a chance.

In the meantime I will resend the envelope addressed to Western Samoa and see what happens.