USPS Mail Forwarding Options For You! (Updated on Mar. 2023)

USPS Mail Forwarding Options – Select The Best One For You

At times, the need to move to a new resident for some time may be inevitable. While you are away, you are worried that you may miss some important mails. On the other hand, you do not trust your neighbor that much to entrust him or her your mails. Worry not; you can use USPS mail forwarding services.

What’s more? You do not have to visit the USPS offices. No, you can log into USPS and choose the mail forwarding option you want depending on the type of mail that will be forwarded and for how long they will be forwarded.

Nevertheless, you don’t forward everything. That is; you can’t forward packages nor can you forward magazines for more than 60 days. However, you can forward all mails. Now, there are several post office forward mail options available on the USPS portal; you just need to select the best one for you.

To help you understand better the best option to go for; we will discuss in details all the available options. Diving in right away…

Available USPS Mail Forwarding Options

Your decision to move to a new location should not be the end of receiving mails. No, you should receive mails as usual for as long as you want. All you need to do is forward mail to new address.

Now, there are several USPS address forwarding options available. You only need to be sure of the duration you’ll be away and for how long you need your mails forwarded. Let’s have a close look at all the available options:

Temporary Change of Address

The fact that you are sure you will take about 2 to 24 weeks in your journey or the new residence, yet want to keep track of all the mails; qualifies you for a temporary change of address.

This option provides piece-by-piece mail forwarding exclusively to first class mail and periodicals. However, this happens for a specific time. On the other hand, package service mails, as well as USPS marketing mails, are not forwarded.

However, there are a few key points to note:

It’s Possible To Change Your Address Online: You can request for a Temporary Change of Address Order (COA) online. Also, it takes a short time. That being the case, there would be no need driving to the USPS offices.

After all, who wants to deal with long-queue in offices? Isn’t technology there to make things easier, fast, and convenient for you? All you need to do is access the USPS postalEase LiteBlue portal and have the whole process complete in just about two minutes-you are through!
Provide Correct Details: When processing the details so that the USPS can forward mail to new address, ensure that you enter the correct information. One petty mistake would mean that you will miss your mails and they may end up to the wrong person.

That compromises your privacy. Of course, you don’t want that to happen. So, ensure you confirm if all details are correct. That involves spelling mistakes in your name and new residence address.
Timely Notification:

You need to notify the USPS of your decision to move temporarily to a new residence two weeks before the actual date of moving. Why is this crucial? The postal service administration takes approximately two weeks before they can start sending the mails to the new postal address.

On the other hand, you will need to notify them earlier with approximately fourteen days that you are now going back to your usual residence. This ensures that mails will not be sent to the temporary residence you had indicated days after leaving. As a result, you eliminate every inconvenience regarding your mails.
Give All crucial Details: Inform the USPS when you will be going back to your resident or the expected time. However, at times you may realize that you’ll take longer than you had indicated in the USPS mail forwarding form.

Don’t worry. Just notify them and request for an extension. Actually, you can get an extra 365 days counting from the day you make the request.
Charges Apply: Well, there’s a section that you will be required to enter the credit or debit number of your card. Again, your card needs to have at least $1. This is not much considering that the money will be deducted from your card for the verification process. The purpose of this process is to ensure that it is not scammers who are making the request, but you.

Permanent Change of Address

Did you buy a new home and want to move permanently to where the house is? Or is it that you will be away for about four years? Then, a permanent change of USPS address would be the best choice for you.

Nonetheless, before you go for this option, beware of the following:

The moment you enter the new address, the details get saved in the National Change of Address database (NCOA). Henceforth, any entities sending you emails receives an automat notification of the change of address.
The database will retain the new address details for the next four years. Before the four years elapse, you cannot change the address details even if you want to move back to your former resident-it is unfortunate! Your mails will continue to be sent to the new residence. This is because the system overrides the cancellation request you make thus making it impossible to make changes.

That’s why when opting for this USPS postal service mail forwarding option; you should be sure that this is the service you need depending on the time you will be away.
Nonetheless, if you select for this option by mistake, it is good you contact the Customer Affairs of the United States Post Service to make the changes for you.

Premium Post Office Forward Mail Service – Residential

Do you have a mobile office or maybe you change jobs every few months? Then, you could consider this option. Nonetheless, this selection is the most expensive of all USPS mail forwarding options. However, it is worth it. Let’s explain why.

All express items plus the priority mails are directly directed to US post office mail forwarding address. This happens immediately the postal office receives them.
Also, your priority mails may be routed or included in the package; sent each week-Wednesday; to be precise.
At no extra cost, all the first mail items are usually sent independently if they are unfit for the weekly package.
You may use this service for at least two weeks or a maximum of 365 days. However, you may request to have this service prolonged for more than 365 days if need be.
You’ll need to pay, $21.10 which is a retail enrollment fee.
If you, however, want to enroll online, you’ll pay $19.35. For each week’s service; you need to pay $21.10.

Premium USPS Address Forwarding Service – Local

Premium Forwarding Service Local (PFS-Local) allows you to decide on the right delivery frequency that is good for you. On the other hand, it offers US postal service mail forwarding-local services from Monday to Saturday.
Clients who use a P.O Box address are not eligible for the Premium Forwarding Service Residential (PFS-residential). They qualify for the local.
Postal Office delivers all P.O Box mails at the local street address. Nonetheless, you need to enroll for this service by paying a fee of $19.35.
Also, there will be an addition of $21.10, which caters for a single mail package per delivery.

Options to Notifying USPS about Your Postal Address Changes

Well, as we have stated previously, you can apply for the USPS mail forwarding online. However, that is not the only available option. You can also do so on the phone or by filling a form.

To understand all these options clearly as well as the online one, we’ll discuss them here in details:

Phone call:

You can choose to call the postal office through 1-800-ASK-USPS, and request for the USPS mail forwarding services. Here, too, you will need to have the card’s number since they will request for it to verify if the details are correct as well as use the card’s details to charge you for the verification process.

Online

Online processing is easy, fast, and convenient. However, you should know that USPS must confirm if you are the one requesting for the change and if all the information you entered is correct; thus you will need to have a valid email address where they will send the email.

Also, you should have your credit or debit card so as to enter the correct number when filling in the details in the portal. One thing, however, to note is that the address of where you are moving to or of where you are going must match the address on the card. Remember, there will be a deduction of $1 from your account during the verification process.

Filling Out the Form

Well, as much as digital has taken dominion over analog. We cannot assume that it is not essential to use paper whenever a need arise. That is why; USPS has this option to enable people who want to fill in details regarding their postal change to complete the process effectively.

You can, therefore, walk to the office and grab a 3575 form. Alternatively, you can log into LiteBlue and print the form. Once you are through with filling all the necessary details, mail the form to the address on your debit or credit card. Nonetheless, you should do this, 14-days prior to your move.

However, as much as many people prefer the online and call options, filling the form comes with one advantage-the verification charges!
Why? There are no verification charges in this option.

FAQ Regarding USPS Mail Forwarding System

Anyone may think that it is pretty easy to complete the forward mail request. We don’t mean that it is an uphill task, but we have realized that different people encounter different challenges while trying to complete the process.

The many questions we receive make us know that people struggle with the process when they log into the LiteBlue to change the postal address. We, therefore, decided to make the process hustle-free for you by answering some of the questions you may have.

Q: Approximately how long does the postal mail forwarding last?

Ans: It all depends on the mail that requires forwarding. However, in most cases, it takes a period of one year. Such mail includes; First-Class Package services, First-Class Package mail, and priority mail.

This long duration is crucial since it helps you to alert everyone that you changed the mail address. Nonetheless, that’s not the case with newspapers and magazines. Mail forwarding for magazines and newspapers lasts only two months. Thereafter, it elapses.

It, therefore, crucial making updates to the mail address as soon as you can to avoid inconveniences.

Q: Which form do I need to fill when requesting for USPS mail forwarding services?

Ans: The type of form you need when requesting for the USPS address forwarding services is determined by whether the change of address is affecting an individual, an entire family, or a business. If only one person is moving to a new place in the entire family, then he or she needs an Individual Change of Address Form.

If the entire family is moving but to different locations; filling an individual form for each is the way to go. If all the members of the family are moving and they all share the last name; use a Family Change of Address Form. However, if it is the business you want to move and needs to change the address, then, use a Business Change of Address Form.

Q: It is two weeks already. Where could my mails be?

Ans: Two weeks already, yet there was no USPS holiday, and you are sure you did enter the right details? Thus, your mail isn’t in the wrong hands, but no mails up till now? Well, engage the USPS. The best way is to drive to their offices and air your grievances.

Nonetheless, the security of your mails is a key factor, thus to ensure that you are the rightful person of the mails and that you requested for the USPS mail forwarding processing, you will need to provide your ID.

The USP will sort the issue immediately they verify the problem.

Q: Once my postal mail forwarding request has been received, how will I know?

It is easy! A mail validation letter is automatically and immediately sent to your current mail address as soon as you have filled and submitted the mail forwarding request.

On completion of the entire mail forwarding process; the USPS sends you a Welcome Kit. Alternatively, they may send you a customer notification letter. The USPS sends all these details in your new address.

Now, you’ll also receive a confirmation code. The code comes in handy when you want to cancel or edit the mail forwarding request.

Q: I didn’t submit a mail forwarding request. What happens?

Ans: Realization that there are crucial mails you may miss yet you didn’t request the forwarding service can be traumatizing. You need to know that the USPS can only correct and store your mails for a maximum of 10 days.

Once the ten days elapses and USPS is not able to forward the mail to you or to return them to the sender, the next thing they will do is to discard them.

You definitely know the mess discarding mails can cause. So, avoid this mess by submitting the USPS forwarding request.

Q: What’s the cost of USPS mail forwarding?

Ans: If you are processing the USPS mail forwarding online, you will need to part with $1. Also, if you choose to make a call to the USPS to do the mail forwarding process for you, you will also need to pay $1.

Nonetheless, the money helps the officials to verify the account. That is necessary to keep scammers off your mails. However, there are no charges if you do it in the postal services since they will look at your ID and verify your account.

On the other hand, some websites have the right to process USPS mail forwarding requests. They charge extra money. Be alert so you don’t land on a scammer’s site.

Q: When I’m moving, how does the USPS know?

Ans: The postal office knows you are moving by checking the details you entered in the form-specifically the actual date you are moving. That is to say; any mails sent to you on that specific date and onwards, until the time you resume your residence, will be sent to your new residence.

Calculating your dates well and ensuring you have the right date on the form both for your departure and for resuming to your old home is a must to avoid any inconveniences. Alternatively, if you are not sure when you are moving, and if you are not taking more than 30 days away; you can request postal officers to hold USPS mail.

Q: When does the USPS mail forwarding commence?

Ans: Mail forwarding begins one to two weeks after they have received your request. That is to say; to ensure that you never miss ant=y mails, submit your request 14 days prior to the move. However, you should remember that during USPS holidays, there are no more services available.

Therefore, be sure that you are not going to have your request delivered during the holidays. On the other hand, avoid submitting the request when USPS is on holidays not unless you are sure that by the time the USPS resumes office, you will not have moved. Otherwise, inconveniences may be bound to happen.

The Final Words

With the help of this article and the answers to the questions above; we surely believe that USPS mail forwarding will not be an issue to anyone any longer. Whether you choose to do it online, by phone, or by walking to the postal offices; you already know what each mail forwarding option requires.

However, we need to remind you that you should update the postal office of any changes you want in good time and ensure all your details are correct. Do also remember that, for your own good, there are charges necessary for the verification of the USPS address forwarding procedure.

Lastly, remember that permanent mail forwarding will affect your mail delivery address for the next four years without you having the option to make any changes. So, only use it if you are sure you will need the service for 48 months-otherwise, choose another option.