By completing a US postal service change of address, you will make sure all of your mail (including packages and letters) is redirected to a specified address. You can file the request online and take care of everything quickly and easily.
Once you start planning to move, your to-do list starts getting longer. With tasks such as packing boxes, creating a detailed home inventory, hiring a moving team, and renting a moving truck, there is so much to do and so many things to bear in mind that it can be easy to forget items on your list. However, there is one thing you should never forget in the middle of all that hustle and bustle: ensuring people know how to reach you once you move.
Importance of an Address Change When Moving
While notifying others how to reach you may not seem like a priority compared to renting a moving truck, failing to request an address change on time may result in many unpleasant hassles such as service lapses or missed bills. A US postal address change is important for many reasons, but let's mention some of the most obvious ones:
Identity verification
Credit card companies, various online services, and online stores use your address for verification, and so do telecommunication companies, insurance companies, the police, license and registration departments. If you don't change your address with USPS, you may face declined purchases or more serious problems across various companies you interact with daily.
You will keep receiving mail even if you don't know it
Many documents are sent through the mail exclusively because they can't be emailed. Driver's licenses, passports, card renewals, documents that require your signature, etc. Your monthly subscriptions to magazines, newspapers, clothing, or accessories will keep arriving, so you better give them a correct address to reach you.
It’s the law
Most states have laws that require updating your personal information with important public organizations and departments as soon as something changes.
Change of Address Checklist: Who to Notify
A US postal change of address doesn’t automatically update your address with other organizations and agencies. You'll need to inform all the necessary public and government agencies about your new moving address.
Here are six important agencies you ought to notify:
1. IRS
2. U.S Citizenship and Immigration
3. State DMV
4. Social Security Adminstration
5. State Election Offices
6. Department of Vetern Affairs
In addition to giving your new address to important government organizations, you should update your current mailing address with other senders, too:
Gas and electric: Requesting a USPS change of address for a family and notifying the gas and electric companies on time about the change is crucial. During the transfer, you need to arrange a specific time for a shut off at your current place, as well as the time when the service starts at the new location.
Phone, cable, internet: Moving to a new home just to wait a couple of days to get the internet and cable up and running is a huge drag. Call your utility providers to let them know about your new address as soon as possible.
Your employer: Pay stubs, tax forms, and the like, require a correct, current address. If you receive your paycheck via direct deposit, you need to notify your employer about your USPS change of address so they can update all important documents.
Individual service providers: Doctors, dentists, veterinarians, and other service providers need to know about your new address.
Other services and organizations that may need to know about your address change include loan providers, financial agencies (such as insurance providers), magazine subscription services, clubs and organizations you take part in, and online shops.
How to Change Your Address
The online USPS change of address process takes no more than ten minutes. However, if you want to talk to a representative face-to-face and make the request in person, all you need to do is go to your nearest post office.
The USPS Change of Address service offers three options for changing your address:
1. Fill out a change-of address-form and request for your first-class mail to be forwarded to your new home address. It's a free service that lasts for 12 months. After that period, any mail you receive to your old address will be returned to the sender.
2. Sign up for USPS Premium Forwarding Service. It allows you to temporarily forward your mail to the new address. This service is perfect for people with dual residences, so their mail can follow them as they move from one residence to another over the year.
3. You can use USPS changes of address for both families and individuals even if you're moving but still don't have a permanent address if you use the third option. With this service, you will receive your mail at the main post office in your new city, and you have 30 days to pick it up after it arrives.
When to Change Address Before Moving
You should change your address as soon as possible. Ideally, you will use the service and notify everyone about your new address two weeks before the move. You will find an area for changing your address on most bills and statements. Remember, while it's true that changing your address takes work, tracking down lost items and missing payments takes even more work.
Boombox Storage is here to help you with any San Francisco storage needs you may have during your move. We offer competitive storage unit prices and our team of professionals is always ready to help with your transition. Contact us today if you have any questions!
