US Global Mail for an expat ?

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warpedspockclone@reddit

Very happy with USGM. I use it for all mail, no issues. Then usually I'll have a bundle of my mail shipped to me. They also offer opening and scanning for a fee. Very convenient.

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No problems. Other people also mentioned the difference between home and mailing address. I've never had any specific trouble that I can remember. But it is possible you may need a distinct "home address."

I've gotten credit card renewals sent there, other bank and brokerage info, even Amazon packages.

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Future_Release_200@reddit

My issue is why if you are old, you don't have friends or family members left. How would one do their residency address?

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warpedspockclone@reddit

Changing your resodency address can have other implications. First, do you want your private mail going to those people? Second, will taxes be a problem? Third, your voting registration changes. Fourth, to comply with local laws, you'd actually have to be present at some point to transfer your driver license.

There are other things.

With mail, specifically, can I count on someone to do the labor of scanning my mail and possibly opening my mail and scanning the contents for me? Will they reliably forward my mail to me?

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Future_Release_200@reddit

So you are saying if we don't have friends/family we shouldn't move overseas and enjoy the rest of our life without the very expensive cost of living in the US? We are just trying to find a solution to people of all situations.

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warpedspockclone@reddit

No, I'm saying whether you have family or not, I recommend a mailbox service.

How the heck did you draw your conclusion as the exact opposite of my meaning?

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UnderstandingFine195@reddit

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DingoPlus4652@reddit

Have anyone use the US Global Mail with the location in Chicago? It does say in their website that they have more preferred addresses TX, FL and others for faster processing.

Thanks.

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Quick-Heat1936@reddit

For a month free, you can use my US Global Mail referral code: TARA-MDYP3B8Y.9AG

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Own_Reception_8739@reddit

Just call the bank - they will send the new cards via UPS. I have recieved new cards to hotels while on vacation. I left the USA 14 years ago and have no address or way to recieve mail there and haven't returned. The only remaining connection I have is I still have 2 USA bank accounts and I have the new debit cards send via UPS or FED EX after calling the bank. They pay for it too.

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ftlwraps@reddit (OP)

Chase bank does that ?

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Own_Reception_8739@reddit

ING and Bank of America -- I do not see why chase would not as well. Just call them and tell them you are currently traveling abroad or on a temporary work contract. If you say you live abroad or are a dual national they may be less willing and sometimes close accounts. I always say I am on vacation or a work contract.

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xy16644@reddit

I'm surprised BoA did this for you as they told me I *had* to have a US address for my new bank card and that they wouldn't send it overseas.

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Duke_Newcombe@reddit

There are companies that will establish a mailing address for you that you can give to have mail sent there, and then forwarded to whatever city you live at for pickup.

For most everything, it works great. For banks, especially if you are a United States citizen, some institutions want a bona fide residential address where people live at, versus these remailer businesses: they know the addresses of them, and if they detect that their cards or financial instruments go through them, with no other physical residential address associated with the account, they may wind up suspending or closing your account.

A great way to handle things is this way: for financial dealings, put the address of record as your last known address, or the address of a family member or trusted friend, and the mailing address as the mail forwarding company. For everything else, the address of the mail forwarding company is fine.

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screamingaerodactyl@reddit

I've used us global mail too and haven't had any issues. All of my mail gets sent there, and if I want I can bundle ship them to my location.

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vadar007@reddit

Works great. Living in Germany for 4 years now and no issues. Shipping isn't the cheapest but I don't forward mail very often, usually scan. Just make it your mailing address for all your financial services and use a family, friend, bum's address for the physical address.

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BPDown123@reddit

I've been using USGM for a while and have never had a problem. Nevertheless, the best thing to do is to also have a physical US address. I.e., ask a friend or a relative if you can use their address as your physical address. Hopefully, you can get one in the same state and you can use that for your driver license as well. Florida is perfect.

You can have all your mail sent to your USGM address without a problem. Use one of their "primary" locations not the franchises. Banks and credit cards typically don't verify your physical address but many of their products are only applicable to "US residents," so they typically want it on file. There shouldnt be a problem.

You didnt mention if you had brokerage accounts but those accounts are stricter and have more safeguards. A brokerage must know in what state you live because they have to make sure they are compliant with state tax reporting rules. Moreover, to prevent fraud, theft, etc., many don't want to even deal with account holders overseas. Many brokerages will close an account if the account holder moves outside the US.

If a brokerage suspects at all that they do not have the correct physical address for an account, they will immediately freeze the account. Then you will have to go through the whole process of verifying identity, location, etc. which will be a pain. That's why its best to have a physical address like on a DL so if there ever was an issue, you can show them your DL.

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gadgetvirtuoso@reddit

Many parts of the world mail doesn’t work well. Usually better to find yourself a courier service/mule that can bring you things from the US.

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a_library_socialist@reddit

USGM has integrated shipping via fedex, UPS, and USPS as well

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gadgetvirtuoso@reddit

Yes I am aware and it doesn’t matter. Those services aren’t always reliable everywhere or extremely costly if they are, depending where you are sending.

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a_library_socialist@reddit

Costly . . . compared to a courier?

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gadgetvirtuoso@reddit

Yes. The guy I use from NJ to Ecuador charges $3/letter or $7/lb. FedEx, UPS even DHL will be at least $70 for a letter like you’d have for a credit card. There are many mules that can’t be trusted but there are also many that are doing legit business.

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SeanBourne@reddit

I happen to use USGM (got it before leaving for Australia). JPM (so I assume Chase as well) accepted the address and it's stuck. (I'm assuming you need not just a place your US FI will send your card to, but also a 'home address'.)

Various other visas and mastercards typically did as well, though for the most part I consolidated my CCs significantly before moving overseas.

OTOH AMEX briefly accepted it... before realizing it wasn't a physical address and demanding I update with an actual. The solve here is to use a parent, sibling, or close friend's address as the physical location, and ask for e-communications wherever possible and a separate mailing location (which can be your USGM) when they absolutely have to send physical mail.

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ftlwraps@reddit (OP)

Okay so I need a relative’s address as the “home adress” and then USGM as the “mailing”

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SeanBourne@reddit

Yeah that should do it

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Prestigious-Poem-953@reddit

I’m in the same situation also Florida

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dmada88@reddit

I use them and have been happy. Amex accepts it as the mailing address for the card but not the “street address”. So I need to have another us address as the registered address, and I use that as the zip code authentication for example. However, replacement cards do go to US global mail for forwarding.

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ftlwraps@reddit (OP)

I’m sorry you lost me can you explain to me like i’m 5 😅

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dmada88@reddit

There are two address fields. “Home address” must be a street address (not a forwarder or po. Box). “Mailing address” is where you get correspondence and that can be a forwarder like US Global mail. They send official notices and replacement cards to the “mailing address” so that works for me. The “home address” is for compliance. Amex requires that to be a us address. I use my sister’s.

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ftlwraps@reddit (OP)

Makes sense thank you !

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dmada88@reddit

Irritatingly, every bank/brokerage is different. HSBC lets me use my UK address as "home address" as does Vanguard. I have no idea about Chase, which you asked about. US law simply requires them to know a street address, the law does not specify that it has to be in the US. However, some have interpreted it/implemented it as being safer for them if it is a US address - AMEX is one of those