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How long does the post office keep forwarding mail? check this out | how long will usps forward mail

Author

Sarah Scott

Updated on July 20, 2026

According to USPS, the service can forward mail for 15 days to six months (185 days) initially. If customers plan to stay at their temporary address for longer than six months and wish to continue forwarding mail, they will need to extend the temporary forwarding period.

If your move is temporary, the USPS can forward your mail from your old address to a new one for 15 days to one year. To get started, fill out an official USPS change of address form. This covers questions about the type of move, the mail forwarding start and end date, and more.

What happens when USPS mail forwarding expires?

Once your forward expires, your mail that is addressed to the old address should be returned to the sender unless it was just a temporary forward. In that event, its delivery would be resumed at the address it was forwarded from. it will go to your PO Box now.

Is USPS mail forwarding permanent?

Permanent Change of Address:

A permanent Change of Address (COA) order provides for “piece-by-piece” forwarding of primarily First-Class Mail® service for 12 months and Periodicals for 60 days, but generally does not provide the forwarding of USPS Marketing Mail® service or Package Services Mail.

Can you extend mail forwarding past one year?

Extended Mail Forwarding provides customers the ability to extend the forwarding of their mail in six-, twelve-, or eighteen-month increments, not to exceed a total of eighteen months of extended forwarding time. Extended Mail Forwarding is only available for permanent Change of Address.

How do I get mail that was sent to an old address?

Contact the postmaster at the old Post Office and they should be able to talk with the carrier that delivered to the old address and have them attempt to retrieve the mail. If they are able to retrieve it, they will forward it to the correct address if you have a valid forwarding address on file.

What mail Cannot be forwarded?

All first class and priority mail, USPS (United States Postal Service) packages and subscription magazines will be forwarded. Newspapers, catalogs, media mail, CD’s, bulk mail and presorted standard mail cannot be forwarded. UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. cannot be forwarded.

What does it mean forward expired?

forward expired means that the person moved, they forwarded their address and that forward has no expired. Therefor packages sent to their old address will no longer be forwarded to their new address.

How do I extend temporary mail forward beyond 6 months?

Customers may extend the temporary forwarding period up to a maximum of 12 months (364 days), by submitting a second change-of-address order to begin on the first day of the second 6–month period (the 186th day), and expiring on the desired date, up to and including the last day of the second 6–month period (364th day)

Does all mail get forwarded when you change your address?

Once you select a date to begin forwarding your mail, all mail that is sent to your previous address will be re-directed to your new address. Those forwarding their mail will receive a packet in the mail containing coupons that are helpful when moving.

How do you check if my mail is being forwarded?

Call 1-800-ASK-USPS and ask to be transferred to the post office in the city where you previously lived if you have not begun to receive your forwarded mail. Talk to the postmaster or clerk in that office to check the status of your address change.

Does mail forwarding cause a delay?

Forwarded mail takes about a week longer to arrive since it has to be processed twice. Depending on the backlog of mail to be forwarded it could take up to two weeks. Magazines take longer, while first class is a bit faster to get delivered.

Why did USPS charge me $40 to change my address?

The Postal Service charges $1.05 to verify identification of customers who change an address online. Websites with domain names that appear to be associated with the Postal Service, but are not, charge customers up to $40 to change an address and, in some cases, the change never gets made.

Can you forward mail twice?

You can, but you probably need to file a separate forwarding order for all of your previous addresses. They get filed at the appropriate post offices, who then know to forward your mail.

Is it illegal to use someone else’s address for mail?

Is It Illegal for Someone to Use Your Mailing Address? Technically, it isn’t explicitly illegal for someone to use your address. However, using a mail address without permission or using it as your own when it isn’t, could be deemed address fraud. In some states, it would result in jail time!

How do I stop USPS mail for previous residents?

Don’t Fill Out a Change of Address

Only the former resident themselves or the authorities can do that. Doing this in any other situation may end up causing a lot of problems. Instead, the USPS (United States Postal Service) recommends that you simply write “no longer at this address” and return the envelope.

How do I get the USPS to recognize my address?

In order for an address to be recognized by the USPS, it must match a corresponding address within the official USPS database which you are able to access by visiting USPS APIs. This address is set up, monitored, and cleaned out (or added to) by the US government on a regular basis.