USPS Mail Forwarding & Change of Address
Moving to a new apartment, changing student housing, or leaving a relative’s home? USPS mail forwarding can help redirect eligible letters and packages while you settle into your new address. But it is only one part of updating your records in the United States.
On this page
- What USPS forwarding actually does
- How to request a change of address
- Cost, timing, and forwarding limits
- Choosing the right move type
- Organizations you must update separately
- Special situations for Nigerians in the U.S.
- If forwarding is delayed or goes wrong
- Mistakes and scams to avoid
- Official sources
What USPS mail forwarding actually does
When you move within the United States, you can submit a Change of Address (COA) request to the United States Postal Service. USPS uses the request to redirect eligible mail from your old address to your new one.
For example, if you move from a friend’s apartment in Texas to your own apartment in Georgia, mail addressed to you at the Texas location may be forwarded to Georgia while the request remains active.
However, forwarding is not guaranteed for every type of mail. Some senders instruct USPS not to forward their correspondence, and some mail classes have shorter forwarding periods.
Remember the difference: USPS forwarding changes where eligible mail is delivered. It does not change the address stored in your bank account, immigration record, driver’s license record, or other accounts.
How to request a USPS change of address
There are two official ways to submit a standard change-of-address request.
Option A: Online
Visit the official USPS website and follow its change-of-address instructions. Enter your old and new addresses, select the move type and effective date, and complete the identity-verification process.
Online verification fee: $1.25, according to current USPS guidance.
Option B: At a Post Office
Visit a local Post Office and request the official change-of-address form, PS Form 3575. Follow the identity-verification instructions provided by USPS.
This can be useful if you cannot complete the online card verification or need help with your request.
Keep your confirmation code. USPS provides confirmation details that can help you review, modify, or cancel your forwarding request. Save them somewhere secure.
How much does forwarding cost, and how long does it last?
USPS allows a change-of-address request to be submitted as early as 90 days before a move and up to 30 days after the move date. Submitting the request ahead of time helps you plan, but forwarding may not begin instantly.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Online COA fee | $1.25 identity-authentication charge |
| When to apply | Up to 90 days before or 30 days after moving |
| First-Class Mail | Generally forwarded for 12 months |
| Periodicals | Generally forwarded for 60 days |
| Advertising mail | Usually not forwarded unless the sender specifies forwarding instructions |
| Delivery after start date | USPS says mail typically begins arriving at the new address within 7–10 postal business days |
Some mail and packages may have different conditions or additional postage charges. Check the USPS guidance for your particular situation.
Do not rely on forwarding for urgent documents. Update the sender directly, especially when you are expecting identification documents, financial correspondence, or immigration notices.
Individual, family, temporary, or permanent?
Choosing the wrong forwarding type can affect whose mail gets redirected.
Individual versus family
Choose an individual request when only you are moving, when other people at the old address will remain, or when different surnames require separate requests.
A family request is generally intended for a household with the same surname moving together to the same new address. If you share an apartment with unrelated roommates, do not automatically select the family option.
Temporary versus permanent
A temporary request is useful when you plan to return to the original address, such as during an extended stay elsewhere. A permanent request is intended for a lasting move. Temporary forwarding has its own minimum and maximum periods.
Example: If you move out of a relative’s home but your relative is staying there, an individual request is usually the appropriate starting point. You do not want their mail redirected with yours.
Who should you notify directly after moving?
Think of USPS forwarding as a temporary safety net. The lasting solution is to update your address with every organization that needs accurate contact or residency information.
- USCIS: Many noncitizens must report a new address within 10 days of moving. USPS does not forward USCIS mail. Follow the applicable USCIS procedure and check for any additional immigration-case requirements.
- Bank and credit card providers: Update your residential and mailing addresses using your financial institution’s official channels.
- Employer: Update payroll, tax, benefits, and HR records where applicable.
- State DMV: Check your state’s deadline and procedure for changing the address associated with your driver’s license or state ID.
- School or university: Update your student record and ask your international student office about any separate immigration reporting requirements.
- Insurance and healthcare providers: Update your address so that coverage records and important correspondence remain accurate.
- Other services: Review your phone provider, utilities, subscriptions, and any other accounts that send essential mail.
Immigration warning: Updating USPS is not the same as updating USCIS. Check USCIS Change of Address promptly after moving. Some people, including those in immigration court proceedings, may have additional reporting obligations.
Situations Nigerians in the U.S. should know about
Your first U.S. address may be temporary. You might stay with a sibling, move from a hotel to an apartment, or leave university housing after your first semester. Each situation needs a slightly different approach.
If you just arrived from Nigeria
USPS domestic mail forwarding is not a way to redirect mail from your old Nigerian address to the United States. Once you have a U.S. mailing address, provide it directly to the organizations that need it.
If you live with family or roommates
Make sure the forwarding request applies to the correct person. Check that the new address includes the correct apartment or unit number. If other residents remain at the old address, take care not to redirect their mail.
If you are an international student
Moving from a dormitory or campus mailbox may involve special mailroom procedures. Ask your university how mail is handled after you leave campus housing, and update your address with your designated school official or international student office as required.
If you use a private mailbox
Mail handled by a commercial mail-receiving agency may have different forwarding rules. USPS generally does not accept a standard change-of-address request from a commercial mailbox address. Ask the mailbox provider how it handles mail after you leave.
A useful habit: Keep a private list of the organizations where you have updated your address, the date of each change, and any confirmation received. It can save time when you move again.
What if your mail does not arrive?
Forwarding can take time, and some items may never be eligible for forwarding. If expected mail has not arrived, check these points before assuming it has been lost.
- Confirm that your request was successfully submitted and that the start date has passed.
- Check the spelling and formatting of both addresses, including apartment numbers and ZIP Codes.
- Review whether you selected an individual or family request.
- Ask the sender whether the item was marked with a restriction against forwarding.
- Contact USPS through its official support channels if you need help.
If the missing item is important, contact the original sender directly. It may be safer to update your address and request a replacement or reissue rather than wait indefinitely for forwarding.
USPS provides an official way to manage a change-of-address request using your confirmation details.
Mistakes and scams to avoid
- Using an unofficial website: Third-party services may charge substantially more than the official USPS online authentication fee.
- Assuming every letter will be forwarded: Some mail is excluded or subject to different forwarding rules.
- Forgetting USCIS: Immigration-related address reporting is separate and may be time-sensitive.
- Choosing the wrong household type: A family request can be inappropriate when roommates or relatives remain at the old address.
- Leaving out address details: An incorrect ZIP Code or missing apartment number can interfere with delivery.
- Throwing away the confirmation: Your confirmation code can be useful for managing or cancelling the request.
Watch for misleading websites. USPS warns that some third-party websites charge $40 or more for change-of-address services. Use USPS.com or visit a Post Office instead.
Official sources and further guidance
USPS procedures, fees, and mail-forwarding rules may change. Always check the current official guidance before submitting a request.
- USPS — Change of Address: The Basics
- USPS — Official online change of address
- USAGov — U.S. Postal Service
- USCIS — How to change your address
- USAGov — State governments
This guide is for general information. For postal services, immigration obligations, and state-specific address requirements, follow the applicable official instructions.
Keep your relocation records up to date
Changing your address is part of settling into life in the United States. For other identification and administrative tasks, explore Identity, IDs & Administration. For the wider moving and settling-in process, visit Relocation to the U.S..