Getting Your Mail to Malta

 

                       Moving Abroad:    

          What to Do About Your Mail

                     Why You Should Keep a US Address

 

Got a good question the other day from someone who read the blog.  How do you forward your mail from your country of origin to Malta?

Here's my answer: you don't. You don't forward your mail to your new home abroad. Instead, you keep an address in the US (will be using the word US or America for this article, although it applies to expatriates from anywhere).

Why you need to keep your American address:

-You need an American address for any bank accounts or investments  you keep open in the US.

-Forwarding costs to your new home abroad would either take forever to reach you or would be prohibitive to pay for.

-You never know when you'll return and keeping an American address will just make it that much easier.

-If you do any business in your former country, your clients may prefer sending you payments by check to an American address (this is especially true in the US).

-If you need to pay taxes—or receive a refund--the IRS  needs an American address.

How do you keep an American address?

-Ask a trusted friend or relative to let you use his/her address. That's what I did with my brother when I moved from the US to Malta over seven months ago.

-First, eliminate as much junk mail as you can by calling the Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service www.dmachoice.org which lets you opt out of receiving junk mail from many national companies for five years. There may be a $1 fee.

-Next, for other associations or magazines that aren't on the DNA list, email them or send back their junk mail, stating that you are leaving the country and don't want any more of their mail. For me, it must have been somewhat successful because my brother hasn't been complaining. (On the other hand, my brother—G-d bless him—is a paper hoarder, so maybe he likes getting the stuff.)

-Ask the person getting your mail to let you know when something important-looking arrives or if some mail comes that you've been waiting for. In that case, my brother opens my mail for me and tells me what it is. If I need something right away, he sends/faxes/scans and emails it to me. If it's not so crucial, he keeps it until he sees me.

-If you don't have someone to collect your mail for you, investigate mail services that will do the same thing for you—but for a fee. The best thing is to Google: mail services in your area and see what you come up with.

If it comes down to having your mail forwarded to you, then you must contact all your important mail sources and let them know your new address. Or you may have to talk to someone at the US Post Office. In that case, lots of luck. The only good thing about going for a discussion at your post office is that it's not as bad as having to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Alexandra and Steve, thanks for very good info--especially about receiving statements online--and also the cost of forwarding mail from the UK. I agree that 26 pounds is not bad at all--just get rid of the junk mail before---Ilene

[Steve H.]

Mail forwarding from the UK to anywhere in Europe is £26.00 for 6 months which I did not think was bad, unfortunatly this also includes the dreaded junk mail. If I need a UK address after this time I also use my brothers address.

[Alexandra Claes]

Absolutely agree from experience. We kept my parents address as our "depot" and mum would do the same concerning prioritising what should be opened, mentioned or sent along in a monthly bulk package.

While living in Belgium we kept all our Australian bank accounts open and active and even consolidated them on line with our Belgian accounts. Worked very well. Also, this may be necessary as was for us, as gov't payments or child maintenance, tax lodgements etc, may require a national funding institution.

Also, have your statements and/or correspondence from various contacts put online. Eliminates delay, confusion, inconvenience and it's good for the environment too!

When we arrive in Malta we intend to do the same.