Does US Mail Forward Internationally?

In an attempt to avoid going crazy waiting for hear back about my spousal visa, I'm tying up loose ends as far as the probablity of moving goes...

So...does the USPS forward mail internationally? I'm planning on changing my address on all the important stuff (banks, loans, credit cards, etc etc) but as far as the other stuff goes is there anyway to get it forwarded to new address in England? I'm thinking of forwarding my mail to my Dad's address here in FL, that way if I do get anything important that I haven't changed my address on further then it'll go to his address.

There's no international forwarding service.  Your best bet is to have it forwarded to your dad's house and then have him send you any important stuff.

Thanks I thought as much, just wanted to be sure. 

Yes the USPS will forward mail internationally - we're still getting junk mail sent to us along with our regular mail from the US.

They won't, however, forward things like catalogues etc..

Yes the USPS will forward mail internationally - we're still getting junk mail sent to us along with our regular mail from the US.

They won't, however, forward things like catalogues etc..

Has this recently changed?  Forwarding wasn't an option for me in 2003. 

I have a PO Box in San Francisco and once a month my girlfriend picks up my mail and sends it to me.
She is a very nice friend indeed

Has this recently changed?  Forwarding wasn't an option for me in 2003. 

nor in 2004..  and yes Jen.  YOU DO have a  cool friend!  one less headache.

Has this recently changed?  Forwarding wasn't an option for me in 2003. 

Apparently so. Hubby was the one who went down to the PO and sorted it all out and they told him the change had come about in the past year or so, (he's fuzzy about any sort of detail that they gave him on this).

My Wife queried the folks down at the Post Office - yes, first class post is forwarded, but not junk.

I think your best bet is to ask at your post office - mine in Atlanta told me they didn't, and that was 8 weeks ago. Mine is now forwarded to my parents!

I didn't think forwarding was an option, nor did I think to ask when I moved (in 2004).  Nonetheless, I filled in the regular 'Change of Address' card at the Tampa post office when I moved - listing my UK address as the 'new address'.  And like Tam, I got an assortment of anything & everything forwarded to me here for quite some time...including catalogues.

Go figure?

They do forward internationally on a change of address though you will get various degrees of responses when you ask.

Just fill out the regular form (you can't do the online one) and it should forward.

If you don't want to rely on family and you would really like to keep a US address for a variety of things, check out Remote Control Mail: http://www.remotecontrolmail.com/  They basically scan the envelope of everything coming in and then you get to decide what to do with each piece, including sending it on to you internationally or just opening and scanning it so you can read it online.

We're getting first-class mail redirected from the U.S., and I'm amazed at some of the first-class junk we're getting: carpet cleaning services and the like. I'm tempted to call and ask them to come on over and give our rugs a cleaning.

Thanks for the link to Remote Control Mail....hmmm not sure if I want to go with them or risk trying to get it forwarded....so many decisions!

This is surprising, as I was told last year (2005) by my postman that no mail would be forwarded overseas. Here's a clarification from the USPS.gov website:

>>International Mail

    * Express Mail®, Periodicals, Package Services, and Standard Mail™ items are not forwarded Internationally. In addition, First-Class and Priority Mail® items that contains a non-forwarding endorsement or appears to contain merchandise are not forwarded Internationally.
    * First-Class Mail® and Priority Mail® cards and unregistered letters are forwarded Internationally, for 12 months, as long as both of the following conditions are met:
         1. The mailpiece does not contain a non-forwarding endorsement
         2. The mailpiece does not appear to contain merchandise.
    * The post office will advise publishers of a customer’s new address.
    * All international mail that is not forwarded will be treated as RTS (returned to sender) or waste, depending on the class of mail.
    * Note: For items originating outside of the United Stated that are sent to an addressee who has moved within the United States, refer to Forwarding of Inbound International Mail.

More on mail forwarding:

If you are moving to an international location, or have a Military (APO/FPO) address, you fill out the same Change of Address (COA) card that is filed for a domestic move (PS Form 3575).

    * This change of address process must be completed at the local Post Office™ (i.e. the U.S. office).
    * If you are moving to or from an International or Military address the COA can not be submitted via the internet.

If you forget to submit a COA and you move to the international or Military address, you can write a letter to the old and new Post Office facilities explaining the situation.

    * Provide direction on how / where you need mail forwarded.
    * The letter should include as many details asked on the COA card as possible.