Moving to a New Apartment? Mail Forwarding Basics

If you’re moving to a new apartment, it’s important to obtain the necessary forms from the post office for mail forwarding. Forwarding your mail ensures that you’ll receive items like bills in a timely manner once you’ve moved. Therefore, you’ll need to obtain the proper forms, as indicated, and notify the post office in an adequate amount of time to make sure your mail can be forwarded without difficulty.

Obtain a Change of Address Kit

To get the ball rolling, you’ll need to obtain a “Change of Address” kit from your local post office. Also known as a PS Form 3575, you can obtain this document from your post office, your mail carrier or by calling (800) ASK-USPS. You can also access the form online. Once you receive the form, you can start filling in the “blanks,” or boxes in this case.

Filling out the Form

To fill out the form, make sure you use a pen with blue or black ink. You’ll need to indicate in the first box whether you are an individual who is moving or part of a family. Make sure you indicate in box 2 of the form that the move is not temporary. Many people use mail forwarding if they have a vacation home; therefore, this is a mail forwarding option. Make certain, then, you indicate that you want the mail permanently forwarded to your new address. You’ll also have to include the date you want your post office to start forwarding your mail.

Include the Individuals in your Household

In box 5 of the form, you need to state your first and last name. In addition, if there are other people in your household, you’ll be required to include their names as well. Even if you have children, they should be included on the form for mail forwarding purposes. For instance, in some cases, the school where your children will be attending may mail items that are for them specifically. Therefore, it’s essential that you fill out the names of all your family members when filling out the form.

Filling in the Old and New Addresses and the Remaining Details

In box 7 of the form, you’ll want to fill in your old address and in box 8 of the form, the address where you will be living. After you print and sign the form in box 9, you’ll need to enter the date in box 10.

Submit the Form to the Post Office

Once you’ve filled out the form, you can give it to your mail carrier or your local post office for processing.

Be sure you give the post office at least two weeks’ notice in order to make sure that forwarding your mail can be facilitated without any type of difficulty. Periodicals can only be forwarded for only six months, so make sure you notify publishers of your new address immediately.

Making sure that your mail is forwarded, when done early, will make the whole process of moving go more easily.