If you sign up for any virtual mailbox or mail-forwarding service, you will meet USPS Form 1583. It has an intimidating name and a page of small print, but the idea behind it is simple: it is the application that authorizes delivery of mail through an agent. A provider must complete its required identity and authorization process before activating mail receipt for a customer.
This guide walks through what the form is, what it asks for, and how the identity-verification step works — so there are no surprises when it is your turn to fill one out.
Why the form exists
A virtual mailbox is a type of business the U.S. Postal Service calls aCommercial Mail Receiving Agency, or CMRA. Because a CMRA accepts mail on behalf of other people, USPS requires a completed Form 1583 — officially theApplication for Delivery of Mail Through Agent — for every recipient before the agent can receive their mail. It confirms who you are, records the address being served, and authorizes the agent to accept mail in your name. It exists mostly to prevent fraud and to keep a clear record of who is receiving mail where.
What the form asks for
Most of Form 1583 is straightforward identity and contact information:
- Your name and current home (physical) address — not the mailbox address.
- The name and address of the CMRA that will receive your mail.
- Two forms of identification (covered below).
- The names of anyone else who will receive mail at the same box, such as a spouse or a business.
If you are setting up a box for a business or a household, each person or entity receiving mail generally needs to be listed and identified. That is normal, and a good service will guide you through adding recipients rather than making you decode the form alone.
The two forms of ID
USPS asks for two pieces of identification. One must be a photo ID; the other verifies your home address. Commonly accepted examples include:
- Photo ID: a state driver's license or ID card, or a passport.
- Address verification: a lease or mortgage document, a vehicle registration, or a recent utility bill in your name.
At least one of the two must show your current physical address. The exact accepted list can change, so treat these as examples and confirm the current requirements with your provider before you submit.
The identity step: notarization or in-person verification
The current form allows the CMRA owner or an authorized employee to witness the customer through physical presence or real-time audiovisual interaction. A U.S. notary is another permitted path. Which method a provider actually offers depends on its approved workflow and can change.
Because the accepted methods vary and USPS updates its rules periodically, the honest answer to "how exactly do I verify?" is: follow the specific instructions your mail service gives you. Do not assume a particular remote or notary method will be available until your provider confirms it.
How this works with EverAddress
EverAddress has built a private identity and postal-authorization workflow, but no address is activated until facility evidence, recipient eligibility, required documents, approved agreements, operations, and billing are complete. Final public instructions remain in legal review. Current status pages are atForm 1583 guidance and ourCMRA onboarding disclosure. EverAddress does not activate an address or claim approval merely because files were submitted.
- Form 1583 is what lets a mail service legally receive mail for you.
- It needs your info, the agent's info, and two IDs (one showing your physical address).
- The current form permits physical or real-time audiovisual witnessing by the agent, or a U.S. notary; provider options vary.
- It authorizes mail delivery; it does not settle domicile, residency, or institutional acceptance.
Common questions
Do I have to get Form 1583 notarized?
The current form supports witnessing by the CMRA owner or an authorized employee through physical presence or real-time audiovisual interaction, or by a U.S. notary. A provider may offer only some permitted paths. Follow the exact current instructions shown during setup.
What identification does Form 1583 require?
USPS asks for two forms of identification: one that is a photo ID (such as a state driver's license, state ID card, or passport) and one that verifies your home address (such as a lease, vehicle registration, or a recent utility bill). One of the two must show your current physical home address. Confirm the current accepted list with your provider before you submit.
Does completing Form 1583 make the mailbox my legal address?
No. Form 1583 authorizes an agent to receive your mail; it does not by itself establish legal domicile, residency, or acceptance by any bank, agency, or state program. Those are separate determinations with their own rules that vary by institution and jurisdiction.
How long does the Form 1583 step take?
It depends on the permitted verification method, document quality, and staff review. EverAddress does not publish a turnaround today. An activated workflow should show its recorded state without implying approval or timing that has not been confirmed.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and USPS requirements can change. For your own situation, rely on your provider's current instructions and, where it matters, a professional.