How to Change a Mailing Address in California

Any California resident who's moving, should file an official change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS recommends submitting the form at least three days prior to the change, so that mail handlers will have ample time to stop delivery at one location and start it at another. Change of address forms can be submitted after a move, but there could be a gap in mail delivery, ranging from a few days to over a week.

Instructions

1. Visit the U.S. Post Office's official website, Usps.com, to find the closest post office to the address that you're moving from. Once you're on the home page, click the tab on the upper right labeled "Locate a Post Office." Once the next page loads, there will be a tab labeled "What Are You Looking For?" near the top left side of the page. Click the box to display a drop-down menu and choose the "Post Office Locations" option.

2. Type in your old street address in the blank bar under the heading "Near What Location?" and then enter the city and zip code in each labeled box. After that, click the button labeled "Search." A box should appear with a map of all of the California post office locations closest to the address you provided.

3. Choose the USPS location on the map nearest you, and write down or print out the street address, phone number and hours of operation of the postal location. Then go to the post office branch and ask a clerk for a change of address form. The form, formally known as a PS 3575, takes just a few minutes to fill out.

4. Fill out the form, either while at the post office or elsewhere. There's no requirement that the form be completed at the branch office, but it could help to do so, if you think you might have any questions about filling out the form. Answer all the questions in ink: Do not use a pencil. Then return the completed form to a postal clerk.

Tips & Warnings

• When returning the change of address form, make sure you have a picture ID with you, in case the postal clerk asks to see it.

References

• USPS Services Locator