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Standard mail forwarding lasts 12 months. You can pay to extend mail forwarding for 6, 12, or 18 more months (18 months is the maximum). To purchase Extended Mail Forwarding, you can add it when you first submit your change-of-address request or if you later edit your request.

The term forwarding, used for mail since long before electronic communications, has no specific technical meaning, but it implies that the email has been moved "forward" to a new destination. Email forwarding can also redirect mail going to a certain address and send it to one or more other addresses.

Regular Mail Forwarding: Regular Mail Forwarding is a standard forward mailing service where the USPS forwards your mail piece by piece once you change your address. The service may also mail some specific items for free such as Priority Mail, Periodicals, and First Class mail, among others.

Although mail forwarding may begin within 3 business days of your submitted request, it's best to allow up to 2 weeks. Mail will be forwarded to your new address as it comes, piece by piece. Choose to change your address in a few simple steps online or visit your local Post Office™ location.

If you set up mail forwarding through USPS, only USPS-sent first-class or priority mail will be forwarded. That means you will need to update your address with any person or service that uses private delivery methods, such as UPS, FedEx or Amazon.

Mail forwarding will take into account your previous address and redirect the mail to your new address. When your mail has your previous address on it, it won't go to your previous address, instead it will go to your new address. In other words, USPS will catch your lost letters and redirect them to your new home.

Does USPS mail forwarding include packages? USPS forwards only First-Class Mail® packages with Standard Temporary or Permanent mail forwarding. The service forwards the packages free of charge.

The USPS will forward your First-Class Mail® for free through a standard change-of-address form. If you fill out the form online, you'll be charged a one-time fee of $1.05 for identification purposes. The USPS also offers premium forwarding so that you can receive all of your mail at your new address.