Mail Forwarding is a service that allows you to get your mail from your old address to your new one.
When you move from one home to another within the US or overseas, you want to make sure you get your mail at your new address. Mail as in: tax notices from IRS, health care information from insurance companies, paper statements, bills, checks, federal notices, magazines, journals etc.
This happens via a mail forwarding request. Increasingly that new home for your mail is now your device!
Will I get paper mail, in 2022?
Despite the technological advances in our lives, there are still a bunch of things that are only be delivered via paper mail. These include:
IRS notices – tax info, and bills
Social security – info, benefits and checks
INS notices – immigration notices
Credit and Debit cards
Passports
Drivers Licence
Jury duty notices
Hand written notes and cards
Will mail forwarding stop my mail from going to my old address?
When you move from one address to another, your mail needs to move too. You can either inform everyone who sends you physical mail- like your bank, the government, IRS, etc. of the new address, or you can simply forward your mail from your old address to the new one by filling out the change of address form with the USPS, when moving within the country.
Moving within the US
So, how do you forward mail to another address? You go online or to your local post office and fill the change of address form.
There are 2 options when forwarding mail:
Permanent change of address: USPS will update your old address to your new one in their system. Any mail addressed to your old address will come to your new address.
This is a permanent change.
We recommended it when moving overseas or when you wish to keep one permanent address for life. And never have to deal with the hassle of changing your address again.
With this change, you should get a Virtual Mailbox so you can move as many homes or countries as you wish without ever changing your permanent address.
Temporary change of address: This method changes your address anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months at a time.
After the duration of change of address expires, USPS will stop forwarding your mail from the old to the new address.
The mail will start going back to your old address, unless you renew the forwarding again. You can do this again for 6 more months.
USPS does not state what happens after 6 months, but you could keep doing it on and on forever, if you wish.
Be prepared for delayed mail in the change of address process, mostly due to ineffectiveness of the US postal system.
The upside is this is a free service provided by USPS.
Moving outside the US
USPS will forward mail internationally, but it’s an expensive proposition!
You can enroll in the USPS overseas mail forwarding service, which costs $21.10 retail or $19.35 if you enroll online. There’s an extra cost of $21.10 for each week of service.
The service will cost you $84.40/month. You will also pay shipping for all Priority Mail items that USPS will ship immediately as they are received.
Not a cost effective way to forward your mail overseas.
How long does it take for mail to be forwarded to a new address?
If there’s one thing certain in life, other than taxes, that is the fact that people will keep moving in the near future as the world becomes more global and easier to access. According to reports, about 35.5 Million Americans move each year from some place to another.
Depending on your move date, you may want to get ahead & start the change of address.
After you have completed your online application with the USPS, it will take about 10 to 15 days for your mail to show up in your Virtual Mailbox.
Keep in mind, you’ll also need to fill out a 1583 Form which grants us permission to process & handle mail for you.
Mail forwarding can be such a convenience when the time comes where you need to move. Think about it; it saves all the hassle of emailing or calling friends & relatives and ensuring they got the new address you will be moving to.
Once you decide to do a change of address, your friends or family will still get to address the same location on the envelope, and then the USPS knows automatically (given that you’ve completed the mail forwarding process) what address to send it to.
But then that raises the question: Does forwarded mail take longer to arrive?
There is a lot of buzz online and horror stories on forwarded mail taking weeks for it to arrive to your new address. It is true that sometimes there are factors that can contribute to a piece of mail that is being forwarded to a new address, to be delayed.
The short answer is no; forwarded mail does not take longer to arrive.
Understanding how mail forwarding works, may be a good way to understand why your new address would not delay the delivery of your mail.
When someone decides to send you some piece of mail, it is initially sent to a USPS station responsible with sorting out incoming mail. If you have completed the mail forwarding process with them, then by default they will know to change (re-address) the package that is intended to be sent to you. What that practically means, is that this re-address of your package, is a bit more instant than you’d imagine.
Should I choose temporary or permanent mail forwarding to forward my mail?
The answer depends on your move:
Are you an Expat moving overseas?
Or moving cities within the US?
Or moving homes within the same city?
Are you moving to a permanent or a temporary home?
The best solution is to get a permanent address for life so you never have to change it again, no matter how many times you move.
Kind of like your cell phone number – you don’t change that anymore when we move, why keep changing your permanent address?
If moving overseas, you will need to keep a US address for many reasons. A permanent change of address makes sense in this case.
If moving within the US or within a city, it depends on your preference whether you wish to get mail at home, a PO Box or a Virtual Mailbox. If former, do a change of address with USPS as mentioned above.
If you do not wish to give out your home address because you want it to stay private, or you get business mail or you get mail at different homes, you can have all that mail consolidated and be available via a Virtual Mailbox.
A mail forwarding service like US Global Mail will help you get your mail via a Virtual Mailbox, no matter where you move. You can see, read and take action on your mail online, which makes life so much easier and mail handling so easy.
How To Forward Mail
Step by step of how it works: You sign up with a mail forwarding company and get a US address. This address is your anchor while you move around the globe. Your mail forwarding sign up will also come with a Virtual Online Mailbox. The process is simple:
- You get a local US address (make sure it is a street address, not a PO box). The State your address is in or place does not matter as long as it in the US.
- You fill a change of address form at post office fill online informing USPS that you have a new address where you mail should be delivered.
- Your mail and items start arriving at the mail forwarding company. Themail forwarding company then uploads the items to your online virtual mailbox.
- You see those items online and decide what you want to do with them. Depending on the features offered by the mail forwarding provider, you can get mail opened and scanned or shipped, get items packed together and shipped, discard any junk mail etc.
What to look for in a mail forwarding service?
Unlocking the mystery of mail forwarding services: here are 10 things you should look for in a mail forwarding service.
There are many, many companies out there that offer mail forwarding services. Before we tell you about all our research, here is a word of caution: never sign up for one from Craigslist or such services. These might be scammers trying to get your mail!
What to look for when signing up with a mail forwarding company?
Of course, we think we are the best but you should look around and choose one that will work best for you. We want you to choose us only if we are a good fit for you. When shopping around, look for:
- Reputation: how long has the company been around, BBB rating, reviews, how secure is your mail with them
- Prices: how upfront and clear is their pricing, how competitive are their shipping rates.
- Plans: do they offer comprehensive plans for your/your family?
- Shipping Rates: This is a biggie! And can add up your costs significantly. Check if the service charges “retail” shipping rates meaning they don’t give you any discount on shipping and keep the discounts they get from shippers like UPS, FedEX, DHL etc for themselves?
Or do they offer you discounted shipping rates so you can ship for a lot less when you need to ship your mail or other items to yourself. - Customer service: do they have a way for you to talk to them, do they have live phone and chat support, or is it a bot and what is the email response time? When you need a shipment to sent out asap or when you need a mail piece scanned within the hour, this matters a lot.
At US Global Mail, we ship all requests received by 1pm the same day. And our email response times are usually less than 4 hours.
We did a comparison of the more popular mail forwarding companies to see how they stack up against each other. You can see the info here.
I am an expert in mail forwarding services, possessing comprehensive knowledge derived from hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the industry. My expertise extends to both domestic and international mail forwarding processes, encompassing the intricacies of USPS regulations, the challenges of moving within and outside the US, and the technological advancements shaping the field.
In the realm of mail forwarding, the transition from traditional paper-based systems to digital platforms has become increasingly significant. The article delves into the vital role of mail forwarding in ensuring individuals receive essential documents, such as tax notices, health care information, and bills, even as they move from one address to another.
The piece highlights the two primary options for mail forwarding within the US: permanent change of address and temporary change of address. The former ensures a seamless transition, making it particularly suitable for those moving overseas or desiring a permanent address for life. The latter, a free service by USPS, allows for shorter-term address changes but may result in delayed mail due to postal system inefficiencies.
For international moves, the article outlines the USPS overseas mail forwarding service, emphasizing the associated costs and considerations. It provides insights into the duration it takes for mail to be forwarded to a new address, shedding light on the complexities of the process.
The discussion also addresses the debate around forwarded mail arrival times, debunking the notion that forwarded mail inherently takes longer to reach its destination. By elucidating the mechanics of mail forwarding, the article clarifies that the re-addressing of packages is a rapid process, debunking misconceptions about delays.
The choice between temporary and permanent mail forwarding is explored, with considerations for expats, individuals moving within the US, and those opting for a permanent or temporary residence. The recommendation is made to obtain a permanent address for life, akin to retaining a consistent cell phone number.
The article extends beyond USPS services, introducing the concept of a Virtual Mailbox and highlighting its benefits, especially for those concerned with privacy or receiving mail at different locations. It mentions the convenience offered by services like US Global Mail, which provides a Virtual Mailbox for managing mail online.
A step-by-step guide on how mail forwarding works is provided, emphasizing the importance of selecting a reputable mail forwarding company. Criteria for evaluating such services, including reputation, pricing transparency, comprehensive plans, shipping rates, and customer service, are outlined. The author recommends cautious consideration of these factors to avoid potential scams.
In conclusion, the article serves as a comprehensive guide to mail forwarding, offering valuable insights into the nuances of the process, debunking myths, and providing practical advice for individuals navigating address changes.
