Moving is a hectic time for anyone. Packing, arranging for movers, and planning for this major event takes a great deal of time. Sometimes in the bustle, it might be easy to forget to inform the Post Office of the move. If the Post Office is not informed of a move, then mail cannot be forwarded, which can result in your not receiving mail.
Fortunately, informing the Post Office of a change of address is a relatively simple process.
First, decide which method to use to complete the process. With today’s modern technology, a change of address can be filed with the post office in several ways. For convenience, the form is available online as well as at any local post office. A change of address can also be requested by calling the United States Postal Service.
No matter which method is used, the Post Office requires the same basic information from the applicant.
The first thing the form will ask about is whether the move is temporary or permanent. A temporary move is a change of address that will only last for up to twelve months before mail will resume delivery at the original address. A permanent move means that the applicant has no intention of returning to his/her current place of residence. Marking a temporary change of address will allow for the Post Office to keep the old address on file, making the transition back to that address much more simple.
Next, the form will require a date to begin forwarding mail. This is an important date to fill out because it will allow mail sent to the old address to still be delivered even at the new address. The applicant needs to be sure that the forwarding date is not set before the move is complete or the mail may not reach the new address successfully.
Then the form will have a space to indicate the type of move. In other words, is this an individual applying for an address change, a family, or even a business? An individual move should be indicated if it is only one person who is moving or if people in the household have different last names. This move would also be indicated for people who receive mail sent to multiple names, such as a maiden name and a married name. In this case, multiple forms must be filled out for each name for all mail to be appropriately forwarded.
After that basic information is filled out, the form will require a full name. Then the old address should be correctly filled out along with the new address in the appropriately marked spaces on the form. It is especially important to fill this information out accurately to ensure that the Post Office will correctly identify mail that needs to be forwarded and that the mail arrives at the correct destination.
The online version of the form will also ask for an email address and a credit card number in order to confirm the small processing fee. This fee can be paid in other forms if the change is made at the post office itself.
There is also a section about catalog forwarding that is useful to fill out to deal any catalogs the applicants wishes to continue receiving.
When the process is complete and the form is filed either electronically or by telephone, the applicant will receive verification of the change through a letter sent to his/her former address before the change is in effect. The Post Office will also mail a Welcome Kit to the new address after the change of address has taken effect.
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