If you’re planning to relocate for a period of no more than six months — maybe you’re traveling for a short-term job assignment or for vacation — you may want to stay in touch with loved ones and continue receiving your important mail. You can take advantage of a temporary change of address service to do this.
A temporary change of address service redirects mail from your current address to a new address for a short period, usually two weeks to six months. Before you get excited, here a few things you need to know about a temporary change of address:
Request a Temporary Change of Address Early
There are a lot of things involved when it comes to changing your address. You have to at least notify your friends, family, and business associates about your relocation.
Be sure you have enough time to do all the above. Also, requesting a change of address early ensures that your new address is active by the time you get to your new location. It’s advisable to fill out the change of address form at least two weeks before the day of your move.
You Can Have a Temporary Address for Up to 6 Months
You’re only allowed to hold a temporary address for a minimum period of two weeks and a maximum of six months. You have to indicate,in the change of address form, how long you’ll be away.
If you aren’t sure how long you’ll be gone, you can simply put a tentative date that you think you’ll have returned. Moreover, if for any reason you want to extend your stay, in most instances you can get an additional 364 days from the day you submit your request.
Change Your Address Online to Save Time and Money
There are four ways in which you can change your address:
- By visiting your local USPS office
- By phone
- By mail
- Online
Change of address online is the most convenient and time-saving option. All you need to do is visit the USPS website from the comfort of your home. Navigate to the change of address form and fill out the required fields. This should take a few minutes to complete.
Review Your Filled Form for Accuracy
You should realize that a simple error on your change of address form will send your mail to the wrong address. Hence, it’s important to verify all the information you’ve provided in the form. You can always contact your local post office if you want to make any corrections.
It’s worth noting that USPS strives to ensure you are safe from any form of address change fraud. So, they’ll send you a confirmation letter to ascertain that you indeed requested a temporary address change.
They ensure you get the letter on time, so they don’t incorrectly forward your mail. You’ll also be required to provide your credit card number when filling out the form. This number is also used to verify your identity and confirm that the change of address request is not the work of identity thieves.
