The process of having your mail forwarded by the USPS must be simple. Okay, maybe not. It’s reasonable to assume that the US Postal Service will streamline. The process of having your mail forwarded to a new location. Still, in reality, you’ll have to leap through quite a few more logistical hoops to achieve your desired outcome.
The setup you make for mail forwarding may not even last forever. In this comprehensive article, we cover (nearly) all you require to know about modern mail forwarding as well as does forwarded mail go to the old address first.
We also discuss the charges involved. The time you may forward your mail, and when the mail forwarding will “kick in.” Also in this blog, we will talk about Mail forwarding services.
Let’s just dive in.
How Many Different Mail Forwarding Services Are There?
When you initiate this procedure with the USPS, you will have three choices for mail forwarding to choose from:
- Changing your address temporarily (TCOA)
- Changing one’s address permanently (PCOA)
- Home version of the premium forwarding service (PFS home)
With a temporary change of address, you can have your mail (often all of the first-class mail, newspapers, magazines, etc.) sent “piece by piece” over a certain time. When you select this route, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will not typically forward mail sent through marketing or package services.
Your mail will be routed to your new address for a specified period (between 15 and 364 days), after which it will be returned to your old address. Such an arrangement is ideal for those who will be away from their permanent residence for a lengthy period.
With the help of an ongoing shift of address forwarding service, you may have your mail redirected to your new address from your old one.
Despite the “permanent” label, mail received to your old address will only be forwarded for up to a year. The US Postal Service will assume you have updated your address with all relevant providers and services within that time.
Finally, for an additional cost, you may sign up for the Premium Forwarding Service Residential Service, which will have your mail delivered to your door weekly (through Priority Mail). It is possible to prolong the duration of the service for an additional 12 months (and occasionally even longer), but doing so will incur additional costs.
There are other levels of specificity beyond the three forwarding options listed above.
1. Individual Forwarding:
You can use this service if you wish to forward mail to just one person at an address instead of everyone.
2. Family Forwarding:
It is possible to have the mail for an entire family’s worth of residents (those who share a surname) sent to a different location.
3. Business Forwarding:
All mail typically delivered to an old business address can be forwarded to the new one, which is highly recommended for companies that have just moved.
Stop by your neighborhood USPS facility and inquire for assistance if you’re confused about which change of address or mail forwarding option is right for you.
Indeed, they can point you on the proper path!
What is the duration of mail forwarding?
As we discussed, you may choose from a few Mail forwarding services about how long the new mail forwarding plan will last. To use USPS temporary mail forwarding, you must provide a date from fifteen to 364 days in the future. Starting from the day you make the request.
With a permanent mail forwarding service. You can have your mail forwarded from the previous address to the one you got for up to a year, allowing you some breathing room to inform everybody of your new location.
When you change your address and use mail forwarding via the USPS, you will (usually) receive a reminder before your Mail forwarding services expire. A mail will arrive in the mailbox a week or two before your mail forwarding service ends to give you advance notice.
You may manually prolong the program’s duration or let it expire from that point.
Can I keep my mail forwarded for longer than a year?
If you have chosen an ongoing address shift, mail forwarding will continue for up to 1 year. After the initial year, no additional time is allowed. Larger USPS customers who regularly receive a significant volume of mail could be eligible for special treatment.
Does mail forwarding go to the old address first?
Your old address will be considered while forwarding mail to the one you have now. The post office will forward any mail with your old address to the new one. In other words, the United States Postal Service will recover any misdirected mail and deliver it to your new address.
Conclusion
The United States Postal Service will forward your mail for up to six months if you have filed a change of location with them. You can get it if you need more time than six months because of a temporary move.
Also Read: How to Start a Mailbox Rental Business [Ultimate Guide]
