Most of us have relocated or moved houses at one point. When we do, we have to change our registered address so that they will deliver all our mail and packages to the new residence.
How do address changes work with USPS?
Here’s How to Change Your Address With USPS:
The process of changing your address with USPS is quite straightforward. One way to do it is by going to your local post office and asking for the Mover’s Guide packet so you can have your address updated. Another way to do it is online at the USPS website.
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Does USPS Charge For a Change of Address?
Change of address is a service USPS offers if you want your mail forwarded to a new location. You can change your address permanently or temporarily.
USPS charges a fee of $1.10 for a Change of Address online, but it is free to do it at the post office.
Changing your address online is the fastest and most convenient way. After updating your address on the USPS website, you will immediately receive an email from USPS confirming the change.
There is a $1.10 charge to do it online, which you must pay using a credit or debit card. You also need to provide a valid email address.
The fee for changing your address online serves as a fee for identity verification to prevent fraud. This is USPS’ way of confirming that you are making the changes.
You can always visit your local post office to avoid paying the fee. Changing your address through the post office is always free.
You must request the Mover’s Guide packet and look for PS Form 3575. This form is for the Change of Address request.
Fill it out, hand it to a postal worker at the counter, or drop it in a letter mail slot inside the post office.
Is A USPS Change of Address Permanent or Temporary?
Filing a Change of Address with USPS may be permanent or temporary, depending on the customer’s request.
The Change of Address is permanent if you move to a new residence or location. Make sure to indicate that it will be a permanent change so that all your mail will be sent to your new address.
If you are going on vacation or will be away from home for a certain time, you can request a temporary change of address. You will be asked to provide an address so that all your mail will be forwarded there while you are away.
You can indicate your return date in the form so that once you come back, any new incoming mail will be sent to your original address.
How Long Will USPS Forward Mail After a Change of Address?
When you request a temporary change of address, USPS will forward your mail to the address specified in the form.
USPS will forward your mail to the temporary new address for 15 days to a year, depending on your indicated timeline.
Standard mail forwarding can last for 15 days, and up to 12 months, the longest period you can request. Mail forwarding is free during this duration.
If you need to extend it, then you have to pay. If you want to purchase Extended Mail Forwarding, you can add it during your first change-of-address request or edit your request later.
You can extend mail forwarding for up to 6, 12, or 18 more months.
Does USPS Change of Address Forward Both Mail and Packages?
When you submit a Change of Address request, USPS will forward your mail to the specified address, but this does not apply to all mail pieces.
Through Change of Address, USPS will forward all mail and packages sent through:
- First-Class Mail
- First-Class Package Service-Commercial
- Priority Mail
- Priority Mail Express
- USPS Retail Ground
- Library Mail
- Media Mail
These mail pieces will be forwarded to your specified address depending on how long you will be away. The maximum is up to 12 months.
However, this does not include mail pieces that contain periodicals, such as magazines and newspapers.
These mail pieces have a shorter forwarding limit. They can only be rerouted for up to 60 days max.
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Does USPS Change of Address Also Work for UPS And FedEx?
Any changes you make with your address records with USPS do not reflect on USPS and FedEx.
Whenever you request a Change of Address with USPS, only mail and packages sent through USPS will be rerouted to your new address.
You must inform these companies if you change your address and expect packages to be delivered using UPS, FedEx, or any other carrier.
Otherwise, these packages will still be sent to your old address.
Does USPS Hold Mail if There is No Change of Address?
Sometimes people would fail to request a Change of Address after moving. What would USPS mail carriers do if this happened?
USPS will typically hold your mail if you did not request a Change of Address upon moving to a new location.
If you forgot to change your address with USPS, all your mail would accumulate in your old mailbox. That is if someone has not moved into your old house yet.
The mail carrier will pick up all the accumulated mail from your mailbox and hold it in the post office for up to 10 days. As long as the ten days have not yet passed, you can still collect them.
If the mail has not been collected after ten days, it will be returned to the sender if there is a return address. Otherwise, they will be destroyed or sent to the Mail Recover Center based on the value of the items.
Can You Print a USPS “Change of Address” Form?
Can you fill it out on your computer, print it, and submit it to the post office?
No. You cannot print a USPS Change of Address form at home.
When filling out the form online, you also have to submit it online and pay the $1.10 processing fee to complete your request.
If you want to request without being required to pay the fee, you must go to your local post office and ask for the Mover’s Guide packet and manually fill out the PS Form 3575.
Read also: Does USPS Deliver Earlier On Saturdays & Sundays? (We Checked)
Can You Cancel a USPS Change of Address Online?
You could cancel if you submitted a USPS Change of Address online. You can also modify your request.
You just have to log in to the USPS website and enter the confirmation code you received in the confirmation email from when you first submitted the request.
After logging in, click cancel or make the necessary changes, then click Submit.
Sources:
Change Of Address – The Basics