Having a stable address has multiple benefits. Families can send and receive holiday greetings and personal mail, bills arrive on time, and a company’s government paperwork can be expected to arrive safely.
As time passes, though, families and organizations might need to move to a new location. It may be because the children are growing and need to be closer to college, or because the company needs to move to a more financially suitable location.
Regardless of the reason, nobody wants to stop receiving their mail, and for that, the United States Postal Service has a tool that could be a lifesaver.
What is a Change of Address Service?
USPS Change of Address (COA) is a service that redirects the mail sent to your current registered address to a new temporary or permanent address. A COA request can be submitted 90 days before you move, and up to 40 days after, for either an individual, family, or business.
Temporary vs. Permanent Change of Address
If you are going to be located in a different place for more than 15 days but less than 185 days, you should request a temporary change of address. A new request can be filed extending the temporary COA for up to an additional 179 days.
If you are planning to stay in this new location for the foreseeable future, then you should apply for a permanent change of address. This means any mail sent to your old address will be forwarded to the new address for up to 12 months (depending on the type of mail), giving you enough time to inform every person, institution, or government agency sending you mail of your new address.
Organizations to notify about your change of address
USPS’s COA is only designed to give you enough time to notify everyone who needs to send you mail of your new address. Among the most important entities that need to be notified, there are government agencies (IRS, Social Security Administration), Insurance and Medical Providers, Banks and Credit Card companies, as well as utilities and services such as electricity companies, internet, or streaming service providers.
Methods to Request a Change of Address (COA):
The Change of Address can be requested online or in-person.
In-person COA
For an in-person COA, you will need to visit a USPS office and request a hardcopy change of address. You will need to bring a current and unexpired primary photo ID, as well as a secondary form of ID in case they need it. To make the process faster, have your address form filled out and signed. Visiting an office may not be the fastest method, but it has the bonus of allowing you to have any questions answered in-person.
Online COA:
In order to complete a COA online, you will need to visit the USPS website. In the Mover Guide page, you will be asked to fill in basic information such as your name and date of birth, as well as a mobile phone number verification (a one-time passcode or verification link that will be sent to your phone), a credit or debit card for a $1.25 payment, and a valid email address. Pay special attention to the details of your old and new addresses, as USPS requires them to include the street name and house or apartment number, city, state, and ZIP code.
Confirmation:
USPS will send a Move Validation Letter (MVL) and your Customer Notification Letter (CNL) to your new address. If you requested your COA online, then you will also receive an email with your Confirmation Code (for future changes).
Keeping Your Original Address:
Some organizations may consider it particularly valuable to keep an address in their current location, while other people might need to move to another country, without losing their US address. In such a case, US Global Mail provides you with a service that includes not just a specific address in various states, but also services such as scanning your mail exterior, interior, check deposits, and even mail forwarding.
