WE LIVE IN USA
🚚 新移民必備｜如何在美國開啟郵件轉遞服務（USPS Mail Forwarding）完整指南
Whether you've just moved, just arrived in the country, or just signed a lease, the thing people most often forget is setting up mail forwarding. It's a small step that keeps tax documents, insurance policies, and bank cards from going to an address you no longer live at. Here's how to set it up with USPS.
✉️ Who needs it
If you're:
Someone who's just moved
A new immigrant or international student
Changing address mid-tenancy
Temporarily relocating to another state
then file a USPS Change of Address. It forwards your mail automatically while you're still updating your address with banks, clinics, and government agencies.
🛠 How to set up a USPS Change of Address
✅ Online (the easiest route)
Go to the official USPS site: https://moversguide.usps.com
Choose Individual, Family, or Business
Enter your old and new addresses
Pick a start date (at least a week ahead is sensible)
Enter a working email and pay the $1.10 identity verification fee by credit card
Check everything and submit
💡 One thing to note: the fee exists to verify it's really you, so nobody can redirect your mail.
📮 Other ways to file
In person at a post office, using PS Form 3575
By phone: 1-800-ASK-USPS, though expect to wait
⏳ How long does forwarding last
Temporary forwarding: up to six months, extendable to twelve
Permanent change of address: USPS notifies some senders, such as the IRS and insurers, to update your address automatically
💡 Making it work properly
If you already receive IRS forms, bank statements, or Social Security letters, update your address directly with them too.
Staying somewhere (a rental or an Airbnb) for more than a week? Temporary forwarding covers that.
Use Informed Delivery (https://informeddelivery.usps.com) to get daily scans of incoming mail, so nothing important slips past.
📌 This isn't just about mail: it's about protecting your information
Don't underestimate this mail forwarding step! It keeps your personal information secure and protects your right to receive bills and handle taxes. Many newcomers and international students forget to set up USPS Mail Forwarding, missing out on insurance policies, important bills, tax refund checks, or IRS notices, which leads to missed deadlines and costly fixes!
Set it up now, while you're thinking about it.
Further reading:
Hi, I'm C from Taiwan, and I'm currently running a business in Los Angeles, USA. When I first arrived, it really wasn't easy. Whether it was the language or cultural differences, I spent a lot of time figuring out every little detail. But all those mistakes I made along the way helped me master the rhythm of adapting to life here quickly. I've gathered all my experience over the past few years on this website, hoping to help fellow Chinese speakers settle into American life sooner. Here, I share how to move over, find a job, and handle various daily tasks, saving you plenty of time and helping you avoid unnecessary detours. I hope my experience helps you start your new life in the US smoothly!
Running this site takes real work, and I'm grateful to everyone who supports it. If any of this has helped you, a small contribution keeps the updates coming.