PO Boxes vs actual address

[chelben 0]

I am thinking about getting our mail regarding the immigration process sent to a mail box at mail boxes etc since we are going to be in the process of moving shortly..can i just use the box as our mailing address on the application even though our documentation will have our current address. i would rather keep the mailing box address so that when we move it does notcreate confusion submitting a change of address form

Mailbox Services

You can get a mailbox with a real street address and 24-hour access* to mail and package deliveries. Additional services include mail forwarding**, fax receiving and the ability to call in and check for your mail and packages. You'll also find most of the postal products and services you need right at your neighborhood The UPS Store or Mail Boxes Etc. location.

http://www.mbe.com/ps/index.html

any suggestions would be great

thanks

[chelben 0]

or even a PO Box with the US Postal Service..i will check the rates with Mail boxes etc tomorrow but right now the postal service rates seem really reasonable right now

37 dollars for a small box for 6 months

[athena_ny 1]

I am thinking about getting our mail regarding the immigration process sent to a mail box at mail boxes etc since we are going to be in the process of moving shortly..can i just use the box as our mailing address on the application even though our documentation will have our current address. i would rather keep the mailing box address so that when we move it does notcreate confusion submitting a change of address form

Mailbox Services

You can get a mailbox with a real street address and 24-hour access* to mail and package deliveries. Additional services include mail forwarding**, fax receiving and the ability to call in and check for your mail and packages. You'll also find most of the postal products and services you need right at your neighborhood The UPS Store or Mail Boxes Etc. location.

http://www.mbe.com/ps/index.html

any suggestions would be great

thanks

As far as I know, USCIS mail will not be delivered to PO Boxes, they require a street address. Has to do with they don't really *know* that the PO Box is yours - a lot of times at condos, apts they won't deliver if the name isn't on the inside of the mailbox.

[chelben 0]

if thats the case i will just go to MBE and get one from them since their they have real address and not a PO box

[athena_ny 1]

if thats the case i will just go to MBE and get one from them since their they have real address and not a PO box

But it's not attached to a house or apartment, your name won't appear inside, same issue as with the USPS. I wouldn't do it, your chances of having mail not delivered will sky rocket.

[Girona40 0]

The address has to be a physical address, not a PO Box. Also, note that on some applications they clearly state it has to be "the address where you RESIDE".

[Ta Ta 1]

I agree, don't get a box, there have been far too many

"undeliverable " situations from other posters here and you will end up with

problems and delays.

[Killer_Clown_2009 0]

Also they may know that Mail Box etc is not an actual home (we used to be able to tell this at a government agency where I worked before).

[Yodrak 7]

Girona40,

It's nice when an address question does include that clarifying note, because it can be hard to tell whether a particular questions is looking for a postal address or a residential address. I saw an old post by MrF earlier this week, while looking for something else, making a distiction between address and place residence but I'll be darned if I can find it again now that I want it. His point was that when they ask for address it sometimes is not asking for place of residence.

Yodrak

The address has to be a physical address, not a PO Box. Also, note that on some applications they clearly state it has to be "the address where you RESIDE".

[ready4ONE 5,400]

We plan to file in the next day or so for EAD and AOS.

Personally, I prefer all important mail to go my my post office box, which I keep in my old home town and the city where I work. Our home address is ok for mail, but it would be a great comfort to have all documents for the AOS/EAD phase go to my PO Box... I am concerned they won't use the PO Box though... The PO Box is safe from weather related issues, and there is no risk of important documents being snagged by someone walking by like our home address...

Should I include our PO Box as our mailing address for the I-864? Or just stick with our physical address and hope for the best?

Girona40,

It's nice when an address question does include that clarifying note, because it can be hard to tell whether a particular questions is looking for a postal address or a residential address. I saw an old post by MrF earlier this week, while looking for something else, making a distiction between address and place residence but I'll be darned if I can find it again now that I want it. His point was that when they ask for address it sometimes is not asking for place of residence.

Yodrak

The address has to be a physical address, not a PO Box. Also, note that on some applications they clearly state it has to be "the address where you RESIDE".

[Yodrak 7]

ready4ONE,

First, I would say try to distinguish whether the question is asking for address or place of residence. If you cannot distinguish, and there is room (or if you can write small enough) why not put both? Street address followed by PO Box.

I am suddenly reminded of my brother, who lives in a private development where the streets have names and the houses have numbers but the postal service does not deliver there. All of the residents have PO boxes, it's the only way that they can get mail via USPS.

Yodrak

We plan to file in the next day or so for EAD and AOS.

Personally, I prefer all important mail to go my my post office box, which I keep in my old home town and the city where I work. Our home address is ok for mail, but it would be a great comfort to have all documents for the AOS/EAD phase go to my PO Box... I am concerned they won't use the PO Box though... The PO Box is safe from weather related issues, and there is no risk of important documents being snagged by someone walking by like our home address...

Should I include our PO Box as our mailing address for the I-864? Or just stick with our physical address and hope for the best?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Yodrak,

I-864 Page 1, question 3 in Part 2, Information on the principal immigrant:

3. MAILING ADDRESS STREET NUMBER AND NAME (INCLUDE APARTMENT NUMBER)

This implies you can use your mailing address (in my case, my PO Box being the one I prefer) but then says "Street Number and Name (Include Apartment Number)" so I am guessing this precludes PO Boxes...

Page 2 of the I-864 also has boxes for Mailing Address and Place of Residence (Part 4. Information on the Sponsor) questions 12 and 13.

I know folks in your brothers situation, who can only used PO Box's to get mail. Ours is slightly more optional, our physical address does get mail delivery. But my comfort level with using the home address for something this important is significantly higher using my PO Box vs our physical address.

So I guess unless there are fellow VJ'rs out there who quickly let us know PO Box use is fine for this stage, I am going to stick with our physical address.

ready4ONE,

First, I would say try to distinguish whether the question is asking for address or place of residence. If you cannot distinguish, and there is room (or if you can write small enough) why not put both? Street address followed by PO Box.

I am suddenly reminded of my brother, who lives in a private development where the streets have names and the houses have numbers but the postal service does not deliver there. All of the residents have PO boxes, it's the only way that they can get mail via USPS.

Yodrak

We plan to file in the next day or so for EAD and AOS.

Personally, I prefer all important mail to go my my post office box, which I keep in my old home town and the city where I work. Our home address is ok for mail, but it would be a great comfort to have all documents for the AOS/EAD phase go to my PO Box... I am concerned they won't use the PO Box though... The PO Box is safe from weather related issues, and there is no risk of important documents being snagged by someone walking by like our home address...

Should I include our PO Box as our mailing address for the I-864? Or just stick with our physical address and hope for the best?