Set Up International Mail Forwarding Services

Mail forwarding services allow you to purchase goods in the US for delivery anywhere in the world. This can be a valuable service for expatriates living abroad, students studying overseas, or for anyone doing prolonged international travel. There are many international mail forwarding services. Before you set up your service, you may want to look into the available options and choose the service that best matches your needs.

Steps

Choosing a Service

1. Assess your needs. There are many options when it comes to mail forwarding services. Each company offers the same basic services, but there are often customizable factors that might make one service plan preferable over another.
   • Many companies offer package tracking, though the tracking options may be limited to the country of origin or the country where you'll be receiving your package.
   • Most services will forward letters and correspondences. However, some services will also forward packages, magazines, and bulk mail, while others will not.
2. Research the costs. Cost may be the most prohibitive factor for some people setting up a forwarding service. If you plan on receiving a high volume of mail/packages, you may want to opt for an annual delivery plan, which could save you money over paying per shipment.
   • Look at the service plans, base rates, cubic/dimensional weight rates, and extra cover charges.
   • For high-frequency deliveries and other perks, you can expect to pay a high fee. Some service plans cost hundreds of dollars per year, while others may be somewhat cheaper, depending on your delivery needs.
   • If you only get mail on an infrequent or irregular basis, paying for an international mail forwarding service may not be worth the cost.
   • If you're unsure about potential hidden costs, it's best to contact a representative from the forwarding service and ask for a line-by-line breakdown of your anticipated costs.
3. Compare delivery times. The frequency with which you receive your packages and the turn-around time on deliveries may be a determining factor for some users. Depending on your chosen service, you may have the option of receiving forwarded mail weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, on request, or on a customizable schedule.
   • In addition to the options on how often to have your mail sent, some services also allow you to have your mail held for a period (usually up to 30 days) so that you can have it sent in one bulk delivery.
4. Look at user reviews. One good way to determine a service's effectiveness is to compare user reviews online. Try searching for the service's name and "reviews" in a web search, or look for online compendiums that compare and contrast multiple services.

Enrolling with a Service

1. Sign a user agreement. Depending on the service you enroll with, you may have to sign a rental agreement, a forwarding agreement, or both. This is usually done at the time of enrollment, but you may need to sign a follow-up agreement if you make any changes to your account.
   • Part of your user agreement may involve selecting the delivery method you'd like. For example, you may have the option of choosing USPS First Class Mail, USPS Priority Mail, or FedEx.
2. Complete and submit USPS Form 1583. U.S. Postal Service Form 1583, the Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent, is required to set up most international mail forwarding services. This form authorizes the US Post Office to transfer your deliveries to the address you provide them with.
   • In order to submit Form 1583, you will need to provide a Postal Service employee with two valid forms of ID.
   • One form of ID must display your photograph, like a driver's license or passport. Social Security cards, credit/debit cards, and birth certificates are all considered unacceptable forms of ID.
   • You may need to provide a notarized copy of your completed USPS Form 1583 to the service you choose to enroll with.
3. Provide your forwarding address. When you enroll with a mail forwarding service, you will be given a street address based in the U.S. However, you'll need to let the forwarding service know what address you can actually receive your mail at in the country you inhabit. This is typically done as part of the enrollment process, but if you travel frequently you may need to update the address so that you won't miss your packages.
   • Some services let you update your delivery address as often as you need to, while others may impose restrictions or additional fees.
   • Contact a representative from your chosen forwarding service to find out what your options are.

Getting Your Mail Forwarded

1. Calculate the cost. There are typically recurring fees associated with mail forwarding services. How much those fees charge will vary depending on your chosen service and forwarding plan. However, there may also be one-time fees associated with setting up your account or receiving your mail.
   • Most forwarding services charge a fee, which may be charged on a monthly or an annual basis.
   • There may also be a per-package fee in addition to the monthly or annual charges. This may be a flat rate or a calculated cost, depending on the service you use.
   • If you have to pay by cubic/dimensional weight, you'll need to calculate what you owe. To determine the cubic weight of a package, multiply the package's height times its length times its width, then divide by 5,000.
2. Make any necessary Customs declarations. Depending on where you are receiving your mail and what types of packages you receive, you may be required to make a Customs declaration. This may be required by U.S. Customs or by the Customs agency in your country of occupancy.
   • Remember that different countries have different Customs laws. Some are more lax, while others may be more restrictive.
   • If shipping from the U.S. to Australia, for example, you won't need to file a Customs declaration if the order is below $2,500 US Dollars (USD).
   • Each country you forward mail to has its own customs requirements. You can find out your country's requirements by consulting the U.S. Postal Service's online guide to international mail.
3. Receive your mail. How frequently you receive mail will depend on the service you enroll with and the specific plan you enroll in. Some services will bundle and ship mail the day it is received. Others will ship your mail the next day. Still others bundle your mail for a week and then send you the package at the end of each week.

Tips

• Remember to factor exchange rates when determining your costs. You can find exchange rate calculators online by searching for the currencies you need to work between.
• Take advantage of savings offered through consolidation. If you can afford to hold off on a shipment or two and have them bundled together, this could potentially save you a lot of money.

Warnings

• Anyone willing to alter the values of your shipments or the fees you'll incur are probably operating outside the law. Do not get involved in any illegal operations, as these could have significant legal repercussions.

Things You'll Need

• USPS 1583 form
• A government ID with a picture
• An ID with your name and address
• A credit/debit card or ability to wire money

Related Articles

• Find Online Shopping Promotion Codes
• Get Companies to Send You Free Stuff
• Create an Account on Citisbest.Com
• Save Money Shopping on the Internet

Sources and Citations

See also

• Ship With Private Parcel Services
• Easily Remove Address Labels from Packages You Receive
• Work for UPS Freight
• Determine Shipping Costs
• Mail a Firearm
• Ship a Package at the Post Office
• Mail a Postcard
• Ship Air Freight
• Buy Postage Stamps Without Going to the Post Office
• Recover a Package Lost in the Mail

Read more ...

What links here

• Work for UPS Freight