What does the change of address order entail with the Post Office?

The change of address order only alters your mailing address with the Post Office. Remember that you are still responsible for updating other government branches (such as those related to benefits, driver’s licenses, and voter registration) and companies (such as banks, insurance agencies, online stores, and more).

How can I change my address online?

Navigate to USPS.com/move to adjust your address online. Beware that you do not have to pay another company to modify your address.

What is the Standard Forward Mail service?

The standard mail forwarding service securely reroutes your USPS mail to your new address. Note that this is a standard service lasting 12 months.

How do I request a free Movers Guide packet?

You can go ahead and request a free Movers Guide packet online or at your local post office. The PS Form 3575 is contained within this packet, and filling it out provides necessary information to retail associates, who will use your photo ID to verify your identity and process your change of address request.

Do I have options if I am only relocating temporarily?

If you are relocating for 15 days up to 1 year (such as for schooling or staying with family or friends), you can submit a temporary change of address request. USPS will reroute your mail to your new address piece by piece during this period.

How can I change my address at the Post Office?

You can let the post office know that you plan to change your address and would like your mail forwarded to your new location. Remember that the postal service does not require paying a separate company to change your address.

Are there any current issues with USPS change of address applications?

Occasionally, USPS experiences issues with some of its applications. You can check their website or contact customer service for updates.

What should I do if I'm moving or relocating?

When moving or relocating, you should submit a permanent change of address request so your USPS® mail can be adequately rerouted to your new location. If your relocation is only temporary, lasting from 15 days up to 1 year, it would be appropriate to submit a temporary change of address request instead.

Will my mail be rerouted all at once?

After you submit a change of address request, your mail will be rerouted piece by piece to your new address.

How do I change my address at the Post Office?

To update your address at the Post Office, visit your local branch and request a free Movers Guide packet. This packet contains the PS Form 3575, which you fill out and give to the retail associate, who will process your request after verifying your identity using a photo ID.

What is the duration of standard mail forwarding?

The Standard mail forwarding service lasts for 12 months.

Do I need to update government agencies and companies separately?

Yes, updating your address with the Post Office will only automatically update some affiliated government agencies and companies. You must individually update your address with significant departments like driver’s license, voter registration, benefits, banks, insurance, online stores, etc.

How do I change my address online?

Online address changes can be made through the USPS website. You first select who the move applies to (Individual, Family, or Business) and then complete the form.

How much does it cost to change the address?

A change of address costs just $1.10 through the official USPS website under the ‘Who is moving?’ section. You do not need to pay a separate company to do this; using the official USPS website is inexpensive and scam-free.

What else is included in the Mover’s Guide packet?

The Mover’s Guide packet contains the PS Form 3575 needed to process your address change. If you are unsure how to procure this packet, you can request it from your local Post Office.

When to apply for a change of address?

The obvious answer is that you apply for a change of address when you move from one place to another. You’re either an individual or a whole family moving out or your business is relocating to a new address. When you choose the type of move, you need to specify the mail forwarding date, which is the date you want to start receiving mail at your new address. It is preferred to set the date before you move to the new address because it takes from 7 to 10 days for the Post Office to forward your mail to the new address. In this case, you can start receiving mail usually on your first day at your new address. However, if it was a sudden move or you’ve failed to apply for one before moving, you can submit the request and backdate it for up to 3 months before the current date.

USPS Change of address online

Changing the address online is the easiest and fastest way; it only costs $1.05 as an identity verification fee to prevent fraud. Follow these easy steps to get it done: Go to the official USPS website and choose from the Track & Manage tab, Change of Address. You will be redirected to the Change of Address form; you’ll be required to fill in your personal info, old & new address, type of move, mail forwarding date, etc. In the end, you will need to pay the $1.05 fee, you can use a credit or debit card to pay for this. Once done, you’ll get an email confirming the change of address and a confirmation code.

Change your Address at The Post Office

Another way to change your mailing address is by going to your local Post Office. Request a change of address form (PS Form 3575) The form is similar to the one online; fill it out with your personal info, moving date, type of move, etc. You can get this done for free at the Post Office, but you will be required to present a valid photo ID like your driver’s license or passport for identity verification. You will receive a confirmation letter in the mail within two weeks with your confirmation code.

How to edit or cancel your change of address request?

If you need to cancel your change of address request or modify anything like mail forwarding start date, end date, type of move, email address, phone number, etc. you can do this online or in-person. In both cases, you’ll need your confirmation code. The confirmation code is a 16-digit code that is sent to your email address if you’ve applied for a change of address online or sent to you by mail at your new address. If you’ve lost your confirmation code, you’ll have to go to your local Post Office to update or change anything.

How to Change Mailing Address With USPS?

You may plan to go to another city for a vacation or permanently change your location. Of course, you’ll surely be thinking about changing your mailing address.

If you’ve been asking yourself how to change your mailing address, this guide is for you. Here, we’ll discuss all you need to know about changing your mailing address, like cost, available options, requirements, and more in the easiest way. Please feel free to grab a chilled juice as you go through the guide.

How USPS Change of Address works:

But before we get into how to change your mailing address, let’s look at when you would need to take this step.

When would you like to apply for a change of address?

Whenever you move from one place to another, you must apply for a change of address. Whether you’re as an individual, your whole family or your business is changing location.

After choosing the type of move, the next thing is to specify your mail forwarding date; that’s when you want to start receiving mail at your new address. You should set the date a few days before relocating to your new address, as it usually takes the post office a week or more to forward your mail to the new address. This way, you can receive emails once you move to your new address.

Now let’s look at the three best ways to change your mailing address

1. USPS Change of Address

USPS change of address is done online, and it’s the easiest way to change your mailing address. Here are the steps to follow:

Go to USPS.com/move to change your mailing address online
From the track and management tab, choose a change of address
You’ll be redirected to the Change of Address form, where you’ll be required to fill in your details, old and new address, as well as the type of move, whether permanent or temporary
You’ll be required to pay a fee of $1.10. You’ll need a credit or debit card and a working email address. The $1.10 is a verification fee to prevent fraud and make sure you’re the one filing for a change of address.
You’ll receive an email confirming your change of address with a confirmation code.

How Long Does the USPS Change of Address Last?

The duration of your USPS mail forwarding depends on the type of change of address you file for. There’s a temporary change of address, permanent, premium forwarding service commercial, and premium forwarding service residential.

For a temporary change of address, mail forwarding will last 15 days to 6 months. However, since you’ll choose the date, the mail forwarding will start, and when it ends, USPS temporary mail forwarding will last until your specified date.

Mail forwarding for a permanent change of address lasts for a year. However, some mail, like periodicals, will only be delivered in the first 60 days.

For PFS commercial, mail forwarding lasts only two weeks, while for PFS residential, mail forwarding lasts a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 12 months.

Why is the USPS Change of Address Confirmation Code Very Important?

Keeping your USPS change of address confirmation code is essential whether you change your address online or in your local post office.

This code will be required to view, edit, or cancel your change of address request. In addition, you can change your email address, notification updates, moving status, mail forwarding date, and phone number with the code.

If you lost your confirmation code, you’d have to visit the Post office to make changes or cancel the service.

2. Post Office Change of Address

Another way to change your mailing address is by going to your local post office and filling out the required forms. Here are the steps:

Request for a change of address form, also known as the PS form 3575
You’ll be required to fill in your details, date of move, and type of move just like in the online form
Change of address is done for free in the post office, but you’ll be required to present a valid photo ID like your passport or driving license for ID verification
You’ll receive a confirmation letter together with your code within two weeks.

However, before you proceed to change your address, here are some details you ought to know:

What is the USPS change of address form 3575?

The USPS change of address form 3575, “PS Form 3575 or COA form,” is used to request the United States Postal Service (USPS) to change your mailing address to a new destination address when you move. Form 3575 enables you to inform USPS that you want to forward all your mail and packages to a new address.

You can request this service whether you are moving permanently or temporarily. Whether you will be spending a few days or months at your new address or residing for a long term, by filling out the Change of Address form, your packages and mail can be forwarded to the new address.

If you are moving temporarily, you can use this service for 15 days to 1 year by specifically stating so on the form. After the first 6 months, you must extend the forwarding service for another 6 months.

I want you to know that you need to specify in the form which needs a change of address, whether an individual, the entire family, or a business. You’ll also need to specify the date you want the forwarding starts, your full name, old and new residential addresses, or PO box addresses. After that, you sign the form and write down the actual date.

Once USPS receives the form, they will cease delivering mail and packages to the old address on the date stated. Then, you’ll have all your mail and packages forwarded to your new address within 7 to 10 days from the specified date.

USPS released a new version of the USPS form 3575 on 1st April 2017, making all previous copies obsolete.

Below is a copy of printable PS Form 3575

The USPS Form 3575 PDF (Printable

The USPS Change Of Address Form Online

Is it Better to Change the Address At the Post Office or Online?

A cost-efficient change of address at the post office is better since you don’t have to pay the verification fee. However, if you’re the type that loves doing things from the comfort of your room, an online change of address is a better option.

3. Change of Address By Phone

Another easy way to change your mailing address from home is by calling your phone. Here are the steps:

Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
Follow the instructions to change your mailing address
Use your debit or credit card to pay a sum of $1 as a verification fee

How to Update Your Change of Address Online

If you want to modify personal details, date of move, type of move, or email address on your change of address form, you can do this online or go to the post office.

You’ll require the 16-digit code sent to your email address if you apply online or via mail if you apply in the post office. Here’s how to update your change of address online:

Visit the USPS Change of Address page, where you can view, edit, or cancel your change of address order
Insert your new zip code and your confirmation code, then click on Get Started
Make changes wherever you want to and save them.

Note: You can only make 2 changes per day, and you’ll get an error message if you try making a third change.

What if you lost your confirmation code and want to modify your change of mailing address order? Here’s how to go about it:

How to Update Your Change of Address In-Person

Visit the nearest Local Post office to update your change of address
You’ll be required to present your Photo ID and proof of residency at the old address, like a utility bill
Request your update from the postal worker

How much does it cost to change your mailing address?

Changing your address is a simple process that can get done in just a few minutes for free at your local Post Office. If you’re doing it online, you’ll need to pay a $1.05 verification fee using your credit or debit card to verify your identity and protect you and your privacy from fraud.

What do you need to do next?

After applying for a change in mailing address, you need to update your mailing list, which mostly includes:

Credit Card Company
Banks
Friends & Family
Government entities
Any magazine subscriptions, etc.
Business partners, investors, creditors, etc. (if it’s a business)

When you prepare your list ahead of time, you’ll ensure no mistakes happen like mail getting lost or being returned to the Post Office because of a “wrong address.” You’ll get your mail delivered directly to you.

If you move and forget to apply for a USPS change of address, your mail will either be sent back to the sender or forwarded to your new address (if valid), but it’s risky.

Read more here: How to Forward Mail to Someone

Final Thoughts

If you’re a busy business person constantly moving around, it will be tedious to request a change of mailing address now and then. So here’s where the virtual mailbox comes into play.

A virtual mailbox is an ideal way for new startups looking for a good mailing address and busy business persons to manage their postal mail and packages efficiently online.

You’ll be assigned a street address with an actual mailbox. Then, the envelope is scanned and sent to your online mailbox whenever you receive new mail.

This way, you don’t have to change your mailing address wherever you go – your mailing address will be forwarded to you anywhere.

Using a virtual mailbox gives you a flexible mail option and provides you with an address you can use as a mailing or business address. So, go virtual, go forward