3 Mail Forwarding Tips For First-Time Expats

Mail forwarding is a critical part of the mail and package ecosystem. These services help businesses and individuals receive mail, even when their physical location is in flux. While these are incredibly important uses for mail forwarding, one group relies even more heavily on this essential service: expatriates. For these individuals, mail forwarding can provide a lifeline back to their countries of origin.

If you're moving abroad for the first time, you might not be spending too much time thinking about mail forwarding. You may not even receive much physical mail. However, working with a mail forwarding service is likely more important than you realize. These three tips will help you maximize the value of your mail forwarding service and see how important it can be to your new life overseas.

You Can't Rely on USPS

Anyone who's moved within the United States knows that the US Postal Service offers a relatively low-cost mail forwarding service. This offering from USPS is fairly basic and short-term, but it's a cheap option when you just need to ensure you receive critical mail while you finish updating everything to your new address.

Unfortunately, the post office doesn't offer the same low-cost service for international customers. You'll pay a much higher rate while still dealing with many of the same limitations. As a result, it's rarely worthwhile to use USPS as your mail forward provider when moving overseas. Instead, working with a dedicated third-party service that offers international forwarding is usually best.

You Should Consider a Verified Address

International mail forwarding usually comes in two forms: verified street addresses and PO boxes. There's nothing wrong with using a PO box, but it may come with a few downsides. For example, some businesses won't recognize PO boxes as official addresses. Third-party carriers also can't deliver to PO boxes unless they partner directly with the USPS.

In other words, it's a good idea to work with a mail forwarding service that provides a verified street address if you intend to receive domestic packages. Having a street address instead of a PO box simplifies many shipping concerns and can help ensure that you receive mail and packages without unnecessary delays.

You May Need Additional Features

Forwarding services do more than simply pass your mail along. Many services offer numerous additional features, such as mail scanning or choosing which packages to forward to your international address. These features can help you manage your mail more easily or save money by holding or discarding packages you don't need.

Ultimately, the features that are important to you will depend on your specific needs. For example, you may need mail scanning if you plan to receive important financial or business documents at your domestic address. By choosing a forwarding service with the right features for your situation, you can enjoy all the benefits of a domestic US address from anywhere in the world.

For more information, reach out to a mail forwarding service near you.