Moving Announcements!

Your first priority with moving announcements should be to tell the United States Postal Service (USPS) that you are going to move. Fortunately, on the USPS website, they have all the tools that you will need in order to execute a succesful change of address. Much of the details involved in this are covered further down this page. If you just want to skip all the blather about the USPS services, and you don't really care about notifying friends, family, acquaintances and businesses that you are moving then you can simply go to the USPS website and take it from there. They do a good job of explaining it all to you. However, you might also be interested in announcing your eminent move to the people you care about the most. For this, you might want to go the extra mile. We recommend that you get some really nifty Moving Announcements from VistaPrint and send them or have them sent to the people and businesses that you are in contact with the most. They are offering a 50% discount! That sounds pretty good to me.

Moving Announcements - Change of Address!

The United States Postal Service allows you to electronically change your address before you move. This is quite handy! Here are most of the specifics about how this program works:

Filing a Change of Address

A domestic Change of Address request can be filed online for a $1.00 verification fee. For the same fee, it can also be filed by telephone. You can also print the Change of Address form from the Internet and then mail it in. You could also pickup a Change of Address (COA) card at your local Post Office™. You can also have your local Post Office carrier bring a Change of Address card to your address. After you complete it, you can submit it to the local Post Office or hand it to a mailperson or even drop it off in a Collection Box®.

The change of address card needs to be filled out completely on both sides and then signed. No postage is required for a Change of Address card. The Change of Address (COA) request needs to be filed by the addressee or by someone authorized to file the COA. The person who submits the COA form has to state that he or she is the person, executor, guardian, authorized officer, or agent of the person for whom the mail would be forwarded under the Change of Address request form. Note: Possession of a death certificate does not qualify as legal authorization. You should complete a Change of Address card for each person or business for which you are currently receiving mail.

You should allow from seven to ten postal business days from the effective date on the Change of Address (COA) card to receive forwarded mail at the new address although it usually takes a lot less time. The USPS recommendeds that the Change of Address form be filled out about one month before the moving date. The request cannot be completed more than 3 months before the actual moving date.

When will I start to receive my forwarded mail?

After you have notified the USPS® of your change of address, it could take up to ten postal business days for mail to begin arriving at your new address. Factors that go into this include the date that you requested to have your mail forwarded, how far you move away and how far in advance you notify the USPS of your move. Normally, records of permanent change-of-address orders (other than those subject to Retention and Use of Orders) are stored for 18 months, starting from the end of the month in which the change takes effect. If you have not started to receive mail 10 postal business days after the start date of your Change of Address then you should call the USPS at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777). They will help you check on your change of address and document any problems that you may be experiencing. When you call them you should have all of your information available, including the old and new addresses.

Internet Change of Address general information

You can fill out an Internet Change Of Address by going to MoversGuide.com. You will receive all of the official documentation as if you had gone in person to change your address at your local post office. The USPS® will promptly mail you a Move Validation Letter (MVL) to the address you are leaving. For your privacy, it will not mention your new mail forwarding address. You will also receive a Confirmation Notification Letter (CNL) or a Welcome Kit in the mail 7 - 10 postal business days after your online change. When you complete your address change online, you will receive an email confirmation. You will then be required to confirm the address change via email. After the ICOA address elements have been verified, an electronic Forwarding Order, (PS Form 3575) is sent to the local Post Office. You will receive a Confirmation Notification Letter (CNL) or a Welcome Kit at your new address. This letter allows you to verify the change of address information is on file with the Post Office.

Business Change of Address

If you are the owner of a home business and receive mail addressed to your Business as well as to individuals at your residence, to have your mail forwarded correctly when you move you will need to file a Change of Address request for your Business name as well as a Change of Address for the individual or family at the address. You have to file both COAs, even if the Family (or all Individuals) are moving from the same Old Address to the same New Address as the Business. This is because it is possible for a family to stay at one address while the business moves, or vise versa.

Final Word: Do make a checklist and start organizing your move as early as possible!

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