What are the minimum / maximum lengths of time the Post Office will hold my mail?
Hold Mail requests must be for a minimum duration of 3 days. The maximum duration for Hold Mail requests is 30 days. If you need mail held longer than 30 days, please contact your local Post Office.
Note: Hold Mail requests are not necessary for Post Office Box customers. The mail is allowed to accumulate up to 30 days.
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How far in advance do I need to submit my online Hold Mail request?
Online Hold Mail requests submitted before 2:00 A.M. Central Time can begin on the same Postal business day. Postal business days are Monday through Saturday.
You may place your mail on hold up to 14 days in advance. This has been reduced from 90 days in advance to ensure accuracy, as of November 15th, 2004. Requests must be made no later than 2:00 AM Central Time the day the hold is to take affect.
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Will I receive my accumulated mail on the "End Date" or the day after the "End Date?"
The "End Date" of your Hold Mail request is the date mail is delivered. If you chose the option to pickup your held mail, regular mail delivery will resume after you pickup your accumulated mail. A third party may pickup accumulated mail if authorization has been submitted in writing to the local Post Office. You, or the authorized third party, must present a photo I.D. if the option to pickup mail is chosen.
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When my mail is being held, are packages held too?
Yes. When your mail is placed on hold, your Post Office will hold all packages as well.
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Do I need to submit multiple hold requests if there is more than one person at the same address?
All mail regardless of name will be held for the address entered. Submitting an online Hold Mail request once is all you have to do to hold mail delivery for everyone at the address.
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Can I request a Hold with an active Change of Address (COA)?
If the Hold Request is for the new / current address you may submit a normal Hold Request.
If the Hold Request is for the old / previous address AND you are now residing at that address:
The forwarding request must be canceled before you can submit a Hold Mail Request.
Please go into your local Post Office facility to cancel the existing Change of Address (COA).
After the COA has been canceled, you may submit your Hold Request.
If the Hold Request is for the old / previous address AND you do not reside at that address you may not submit a Hold Request since you do not live there.
Note: If you submit a Hold Request and later submit another COA, the COA overrides the Hold Mail request.