You‘re packing up boxes, transferring utilities, and getting ready to hand over your keys to the new owners or tenants. Your move is just about wrapped up, but don‘t forget one crucial task – setting up mail forwarding with the USPS!
Whether you‘re moving your personal residence or business, mail forwarding ensures you‘ll continue receiving important letters, bills, magazines, and more. Curious to learn all about how long mail forwarding lasts and how it works? Read on for a comprehensive guide.
How Does USPS Mail Forwarding Work?
The United States Postal Service offers mail forwarding as a free service to individuals, families, and businesses moving within the country.
To start mail forwarding, you need to complete a Change of Address form, also known as PS Form 3575. This notifies the USPS of your new address so they can reroute and deliver your mail accordingly.
There are three types of Change of Address forms:
- Individual – For one person moving or multiple people moving to separate addresses
- Family – For an entire household with the same last name moving together
- Business – For commercial addresses when a whole company moves
You can submit the COA form by mail, in person at a post office, or online for a small $1.10 processing fee. Online is fastest and doesn‘t require waiting in line!
Once USPS processes your COA, all mail addressed to you at your old address will be forwarded to the new address. This includes letters, magazines, packages and more sent via First-Class, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, First-Class Package Service, and Periodicals like newspapers and magazines.
So in short – yes, USPS forwards all your mail! The only exceptions are junk mail and marketing mailers, which aren‘t covered under mail forwarding.
How Long Does USPS Forward Mail For?
The length of time USPS will forward your mail depends on the type:
- First-Class Mail – Forwarded for 12 months
- Periodicals – Forwarded for 60 days
- Priority Mail – Forwarded for 12 months
- Package Services – Forwarded for 12 months
As you can see, most standard mail and packages are forwarded for a full year after submitting a COA. The exception is subscribed magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals which are only forwarded for 60 days.
After that time, any mail sent to your old address will be marked ‘Return to Sender‘ and sent back. So be sure to notify all contacts, businesses, banks, etc. about your new address before mail forwarding ends.
When Does USPS Mail Forwarding Start?
Mail forwarding goes into effect 7-10 business days after USPS processes your Change of Address form. This allows time for the system to fully update with your forwarding details.
So if you submit a COA form on Monday, forwarding typically starts the next Monday or Tuesday. Once it begins, your mail rerouting happens automatically so you can kick back and relax!
During the 7-10 day waiting period, any mail delivered to your old address will unfortunately not be forwarded yet. To prevent anything getting lost, consider scheduling your address change strategically based on when you move.
For example, if your last day is August 31st, submit the COA by August 20th. That gives just over a week before forwarding kicks in by September 1st or so.
Can You Forward Mail Temporarily?
Yes, USPS offers temporary mail forwarding if you‘re moving for a short period. The process is the same, simply requiring you to fill out a Change of Address form.
Rather than leaving the end date blank for permanent forwarding, specify the date you want temporary forwarding to end – up to 6 months in the future.
After that end date passes, USPS will no longer forward your mail. So if you end up staying at your new spot longer, you‘ll need to submit another COA to resume forwarding.
Aside from indicating how long you want mail sent on, temporary forwarding works the same as standard. You still get 12 months forwarding for First-Class letters and packages, 60 days for Periodicals, etc.
Does Mail Forwarding Delay Delivery Times?
Forwarded mail may take a little longer to reach you than if sent directly to your new address. That‘s because it makes two stops along the way.
Initially your mail is routed to your previous address just as normal. But when it arrives at the local postal facility, workers intercept it. They attach a new shipping label with your updated address and send it back on its way.
This extra sorting and labeling means forwarded mail takes around 1-5 days longer on average. First-Class letters with a normal delivery window of 1-3 days may reach you in 3-5 days instead. Packages that typically arrive in 2-7 days could now land in 5-10 days.
So be sure to account for these slightly lengthened delivery times when awaiting important forwarded mail. And consider updating your address with high priority contacts right away so they bypass forwarding and ship directly to your new home or office.
Does Mail Forwarding Work For Packages?
Yes! USPS forwarding works for all mail classes, including packaged shipments sent via Priority Mail and First-Class Package Service.
So if grandma sends a care package to your old condo that arrives after your move, no worries. As long as you have mail forwarding in place, USPS will automatically route it to your new doorstep instead.
Do keep in mind that package forwarding extends the delivery timeline by a few days since packages have more weight and volume. USPS needs extra time to transport and rescan heavy boxes as they reroute across the country.
Can You Forward Mail Internationally?
Unfortunately mail forwarding is only available within the United States and its territories. So if you‘re moving abroad, USPS can‘t reroute mail to an international destination.
Instead, submit an online Change of Address form specifying your move overseas. This prevents any further mail delivery to your old address so letters don‘t pile up unattended.
Going abroad long-term? Consider setting up mail scanning and forwarding with a third party company before your move. They provide an American address for contacts to keep sending mail, then open, scan, and email it to your inbox internationally.
Some popular mail forwarding companies include:
- Anytime Mailbox
- iPostal1
- Earth Class Mail
- PostScanMail
This helps ensure no critical documents or memories from loved ones get lost overseas.
Does USPS Charge for Mail Forwarding?
The standard mail forwarding service is free for all personal and business moves within the country.
You can submit change of address forms by mail or in person at no cost too. The only exception is a small $1.10 processing fee if you choose to file online for convenience.
On top of its free forwarding, USPS offers premium paid package forwarding services:
Premium Forwarding Service Residential – For $20-22 to enroll, USPS will collect all household mail once a week and ship in bulk via Priority Mail. Costs $22+ per weekly box.
Premium Forwarding Service Commercial – For businesses that want mail forwarded using Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail. $20 enrollment plus variable shipping fees per box.
So unless you need expedited forwarding, stick to the standard free service when moving across town or across the country!
How Does Mail Forwarding Work Long-Term?
As mentioned earlier, USPS forwards most First-Class mail and packages for 12 months after receiving a Change of Address. What about after that year is up?
Once the 12 month forwarding period ends, the post office will stop sending mail from your old address to the new one. From that point on, any letters or packages delivered to your previous home will be marked ‘Return to Sender‘.
So it‘s essential to update your new address with all contacts before time runs out. This includes subscription services, banks, credit cards, investment accounts, loyalty programs, and anywhere else that sends regular mail.
Otherwise missed membership renewals, tax documents, bills, and more may end up back in the hands of the old property owner. After 12 months, it‘s officially your job to distribute your new address.
If you need USPS to forward mail longer than a year, you‘ll have to fill out and submit a brand new Change of Address form. Be sure to do so before the initial 12 month forwarding lapses.
Pro Tips For Hassle-Free Mail Forwarding
Following these handy tips ensures seamless mail rerouting during your upcoming move:
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Update accounts early – Notify banks, creditors, insurers, etc about your new address well in advance. This prevents critical documents getting lost mid-move.
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Time it strategically – Submit your COA 7-10 days before your move date. This ensures forwarding kicks in right as you depart your old address.
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Double check the form – Carefully verify your new address on the Change of Address form to prevent incorrect forwarding.
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Leave mail service on – Keep mail delivery active at your previous house during the move so USPS can forward everything.
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Confirm forwarding – Mail something low priority to yourself the day after starting forwarding to check if it‘s working properly.
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Add vacation hold – If moving locally, keep mail safe by setting up a vacation hold to cover your exact moving dates.
Other USPS Mail Services To Know About
On top of standard mail forwarding to your new address, USPS offers other services that prove useful during moves:
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Mail Scanning – Temporarily reroutes letters to a local post office where they‘re scanned and emailed to your inbox daily. Helpful for tracking expected mail and buying extra days to change addresses.
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Package Intercept – Lets you reroute a package headed to your old address to a new eligible destination before final delivery. Costs $14+ per shipment.
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PO Boxes – Provide a permanent mailing address to list on applications and documents so they‘ll always reach you, even through multiple moves.
Check if these USPS offerings can make coordinating your upcoming move simpler!
The Takeaway
Getting USPS mail forwarding setup is crucial for staying connected through letters, bills, packages and more during your move.
Submitting a quick online change of address form ensures seamless mail rerouting for the next 12 months. Now you don‘t have to worry about missed greetings or unpaid bills just because your zip code changes!
With mail forwarding in place, you can focus on the fun parts of relocating – exploring your new neighborhood, decorating, and making new memories. Don‘t forget to notify your important contacts about the address change too. But let USPS handle the standard mail shuffle so your move goes off without a hitch!
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