"Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent" Form 1583 is a U.S. Postal Service form used for opening a virtual mailbox. It authorizes a mail-receiving company to accept correspondence on your behalf at a specified address, which can be a PO box or an actual street address. Many companies also offer mail scanning and online access to your virtual mailbox.
What Is A Mail Agent?
A mail agent or mail drop (officially called a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency or CMRA) is a private business that receives mail on your behalf. Most office business centers (OBC) and corporate executive centers (CEC) provide mail-receiving services.
Why Is The USPS 1583 Form Required?
USPS requires Form 1583 for your security and prevents someone from using your name to receive mail someplace else without your knowledge.
Does Filing Form 1583 Automatically Forward My Mail?
Form 1583 does not affect your USPS mailing address or forwarding preferences. It only authorizes a company to establish a mailbox in your name with a new address. You must manually change the mailing address with any senders to this address.
If you want other mail forwarded to your virtual mailbox, file a USPS mail forwarding request.
How Do I Complete And File Form 1583?
1. Fill Out The Form
Form 1583 is just one page long and asks for details about:
- the company that will be receiving your mail (CMRA)
- the virtual mailbox address (the company will provide this)
- corporate officers' information, if the mailbox is for a business
Do not fill in line "15. Signature of Agent/Notary Public" - this field is for the notary public's signature.
2. Get The Form Notarized
Form 1583 must be notarized to ensure that you want to allow a third party to receive and access your mail. Notarization requires a government-issued ID. The notary verifies your identity, signs on line 15, and provides an All-Purpose Acknowledgement with their seal. The notarization form is often attached as a separate page.
3. File Form 1583 With The Mail Agent
Once the form is notarized, you give it to the mail-receiving company, along with two current (not expired) forms of identification.
The first form of ID must be one of these:
- State ID or driver's license
- Passport (U.S. or foreign)
- U.S. Permanent Resident or Alien Registration card
- Certificate of Naturalization
- U.S. university student ID
- Armed Forces, Uniformed Services, or U.S. Government ID
- Tribal ID card
The second form of ID can be any one of these:
- Vehicle registration card or insurance policy
- Utility bill (PO box is not acceptable)
- Current lease, mortgage, or Deed of Trust record
- Home insurance policy
- Voter registration card
- Form I-94 (Arrival and Departure record)
The following cannot be used as a form of ID:
- Social Security cards
- birth or marriage certificates
- credit cards
References