So, your move is finally over and you’re ready to start your new life in your new home. he has unpacked his items and set up his new place, met the neighbors and explored his new surroundings: everything is as it should be.
except he doesn’t get any mail. It’s been a week or so since you moved in and you haven’t received a single letter or package at your new address.
why could that be happening? what could be the reason why you are not receiving mail after moving?
Well, the USPS handles millions of pieces of mail every day, so it’s very possible to lose a letter or a package. But if all your mail is missing after you move, something is clearly wrong; your mail will most likely still go to your old address.
what can you do then? How to receive your mail and avoid more problems?
Keep reading to learn what to do if you’re not getting mail after you move.
make sure you have changed your address with the usps
Changing your address is one of the many important tasks you need to do when moving to a new place. Fortunately, it’s quick and easy to complete: all you have to do is fill out a change of address (COA) form, either online or at your local post office. once your request is processed, your mail will be redirected to your new address. (see also: how to change your address when you move)
If you don’t file a change of address request, your mail will continue to arrive at your old address, so you won’t receive it after you move.
If you changed your address with the USPS, but your mail is still missing, you need to verify that the application was processed.
how long does it take for mail to be forwarded to a new address?
first, you need to note the date of your mail forwarding request; It can take 10-12 business days for the USPS to redirect mail from your old address to your new address, so make sure enough time has passed after you’ve submitted the request. (It is recommended that you submit your change of address form at least 2 weeks before your move so that your mail starts arriving at your new home immediately after relocation.)
if more than 12 business days have passed, then there is something wrong and you need to find out what the problem is.
Your first step is to check the status of your mail forwarding request and, if necessary, modify your coa request. To do this, you will need your USPS confirmation number.
where to find your usps confirmation code
When your mail forwarding request is processed, you will receive a confirmation letter containing your USPS confirmation number.
If you submitted your change of address request online, you will receive an address change confirmation with your confirmation code by email.
If you don’t have your USPS confirmation code, you’ll need to visit a post office in person (and provide photo ID) to check the status of your request and/or make changes to your coa order.
how to check the status of your change of address request and modify it, if necessary
1. visit the official usps change of address website.
2. scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the link titled “view or edit” (next to the question “has your address changed yet?”).
3. fill in the fields for your unique confirmation number and your new zip code and click “submit”.
4. you will see your change of address order:
- if your change of address form shows a status of pending, then the usps has not finished processing it yet;
- if you notice an error (in the mail forwarding start day, your address, etc.), you can edit the corresponding fields, or contact the customer service team and ask them to make the necessary modifications;
- if your change the form address shows a status of completed, the USPS has already processed your order. you should contact your local post office (at your old address) for further assistance.
how to get mail that was sent to a previous address
If your mail is sent to your old address and the new residents say it’s not yours, it will be returned to your local post office.
- if the usps has a forwarding address (in case you have submitted a change of address form), your mail will be forwarded to your new address;
- if not, the office postal will hold any accumulated mail for up to 10 calendar days; you can pick up your mail there within that time frame (you’ll need to provide ID). after ten days, first class mail will be returned to sender and other mail items will be discarded.
In the case of a local move, it might be a good idea to ask the new occupants of your old house to keep the mail they sent to your old address and come pick it up once a week or so. less.
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what to do if you’re missing mail after moving
If you’re expecting a letter or package at your new address but it doesn’t arrive, there are several ways you can try to find it:
- Check its status: If your mail has a tracking option, your first step is to go to usps tracking and check the current status of your mail (the sender can track you ( and most online orders have tracking numbers);
- fill out a usps help request form– if you can’t check the status of your mail, or if the status says “delivered” even though you haven’t received anything, we recommend you fill out a help request form: it will be forwarded to your local post office and they will try to locate your lost mail;
- send a Missing Mail Search Request: If you still haven’t received your mail after seven business days, you must submit a Missing Mail Search Request to have your mail searched for within USPS Missing Mail and Package Inventory your search request should include several important details: sender addresses and recipient, date of shipment, tracking number (if available), receipt (if online purchase), size and type of shipping container or envelope, description of contents, etc. The USPS will send you an email confirmation when they receive your application and begin their search. they will also send you regular updates about the search.
So how do you make sure you get your mail after you move? Change your address with the USPS at least 2 weeks before your move, be careful not to make a mistake on your COA application, and double check that the application has been processed. If you run into any problems, please contact your local post office for help.
When you know how to forward mail after moving the right way, there should be no problems and you should start receiving your mail at your new address. bring good news!