What The USPS Change-Of-Address Form Really Means

Even though there are already plenty of reasons to be frustrated with the USPS, I have another one. Try solving a USPS change-of-address problem over the phone while living overseas and you’ll completely understand. Do USPS moving abroad challenges have you cringing yet? Here’s what you need to know about the change-of-address form and mail forwarding for expats or someone moving overseas.

Calling the USPS to deal with mail forwarding for expats or someone living abroad is the only way to address a mail forwarding issue once you’ve moved abroad. Resolving mail forwarding while living internationally is not only incredibly painful but the phone call can be super expensive (if you’re not using your mobile via Google Voice). Follow these tips for managing the USPS change-of-address form or opt for a mail forwarding service for expats instead.

Avoid the big misunderstanding of what the change-of-address form really means when you move abroad.

Here’s what the USPS should tell you about the change-of-address form that they don’t.

1 – Permanent does not mean permanent.

If you complete the Change-Of-Address form and choose “Permanent” on the form, beware that permanent actually means 1 year.

Background on the permanent to 1-year discovery with the change-of-address form:

I’d like to say that my mistake of not knowing this from the start is because I wasn’t thorough, didn’t do any research, didn’t visit a US post office before moving to the UK or talk to a live customer service agent, but none of that is the case.

In fact, I did quite the opposite. Despite everything on the moving abroad checklist and chaos that ensued prior to moving abroad, I:

Found the best global virtual mailbox service used by expats everywhere: US Global Mail. US Global Mail is a mail forwarding service for expats or for someone living abroad. US Global Mail allows expats to forward US mail to another virtual US mailbox. This allows an expat or someone living abroad to continue mail management for US home affairs, particularly for expats that still maintain a home in the US or plan to return to the USA.
Completed Form 1583, required for virtual mail handling, including notarization.
Completed the Change-Of-Address form at the USPO.
And kept copies of EVERYTHING.

And although the third party global mail forwarding service for expats and USPS mail forwarding seemingly work flawlessly, I still ran into issues 15 months later.

At the 16 month mark, 1 month after noticing a consistently empty mailbox, I reached out to US Global Mail to find out what was going on.

Helpless and at the mercy of whatever the global mail agent could tell me, the government shutdown at the time seemed like a believable cause. So, I went with it.

At the 17 month mark, and still a very empty mailbox, an epiphany occurred.

Not only did our empty mailbox escalate matters to investigate where the mail went but might cause reason to have to fly back to the US to fix business affairs that were mailed to our former US address but never forwarded on…now this mail issue just got a whole lot more expensive.

I did 2 things. Called US Global Mail to confirm there wasn’t any mail accidentally placed somewhere for 4 months, and then when nothing miraculous happened I did the dreadful.

I called the USPS from the UK.

After waiting on hold for 50 minutes (after the estimated wait was 35-40), and another 21 minutes later, I finally got some answers. Bookmark this!

2 – 6 facts about USPS for someone moving abroad.

Before you move abroad and fill out the USPS change-of-address form, note the following.

You can NOT forward mail to the UK.

Period. US Global Mail can do this for you but USPS cannot.

Mail forwarding is only active for one year and then it expires.

So even though the form says “permanent”, it’s really not.

You can NOT renew the same set of addresses for a permanent address change beyond 1 year.

This means that if you want to forward your mail for more than 1 year, you need a new strategy for each consecutive year.

You can NOT renew the same set of addresses for a temporary address change beyond 1 year.

This means that if you select temporary and repeatedly renew the change-of-address form with no break in between, the mail will not forward beyond 1 year.

You can renew the USPS change-of-address form if you forward to a different address.

You can renew the USPS form. Fill out the change-of-address form every year with a different forwarding address if you need to forward mail for more than 1 year. Put a reminder in your calendar.

USPS customer service agents aren’t familiar with PS Form 1583.

PS Form 1583 is required to forward your mail to a third-party agent (such as US Global Mail), so don’t bother asking USPS about PS Form 1583 via an international phone call to minimize the length of the call.

3 – USPS Change-Of-Address Form drops the PMB/Box/Apt #.

If the forwarding mail address has an apartment, box, suite or PMB number (PMB means personal mailbox), enter it on the same line. Do not put the PMB or box number on Address line 2. Beware that the USPS may drop it so double check the information before you submit the change-of-address form.

Filling out a change-of-address form that has a box number could lead to the USPS sending it to the street but drop the box number.

Even though it might be super clear and accepted on PS Form 1583, if the change-of-address form and confirmation receipt have it, then mail forwarding will take longer or simply not make it to your new address at all.

The USPS doesn’t tell you this.

Pay attention to your change-of-address confirmation. In the event the USPS drops the box number, let your global mailbox provider know about the missing number for mail that’s forwarded from an old mailing address, and be patient. Invoices, paperwork and other mail you expect by a certain date mean that they’ll take a little longer.

4 – 12 months might really mean 15.

You’ve likely noticed the gap between 12 months and 15 by now. I can’t really explain this one. But hey, it’s the USPS we’re talking about. And as much as I really, really do want to like the USPS as much as I love the Royal Mail, it’s stuff like this that make it clear why it’s struggling.

Got forwarded mail? Maybe.

In the end, filling out the change-of-address form really means that as an expat you need to do the following to avoid the hassle, stress, and expense of lost mail:

1 – Add an annual reminder to the calendar to apply again, using a different address to forward to (ask family, a friend, a neighbor). You can change your address online with the USPS for only a $1.
2 – Keep copies of everything, especially the 16 digit confirmation code on the Change-Of-Address confirmation.
3 – Inform your third party (mail forwarding service for expats) if your Apt/Box/Ste/PMB number was dropped from the USPS.

And lastly, make sure mail forwarding is worth it. If you can avoid mail forwarding altogether, then do it! But if you’re like me and can’t, then let my mistakes explain what change-of-address really means. Follow the above steps and avoid the USPS hassle while living abroad.

Looking for more resources about living abroad? Try these.

Living Abroad: 5 Decisions That Make Expat Life Easier
How To Prepare For The UK Driving Theory Test
Moving abroad? Get this moving abroad checklist

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