How to Get US Mail While Living in Mexico: Traveling Mailbox and Other Options

[@NomadicRVLiving]

I have a similar service in Texas that scans and emails me everything once a week. I tell them to Hold, Shred, or Forward. One important tip. Before using one of these services and moving abroad, make sure you open all brokerage accounts (like Charles Schwab and Fidelity) or any bank accounts. The reason is some will not allow you to open accounts if you are using a commercial address. I have run into this issue, even after calling them and telling them I travel around and use the service. They didn't care.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Great tip! Also Charles Schwab is probably the best bet for investing and banking while abroad. Other companies will close your account if they find out you live overseas.

[@dovygoodguy1296]

​@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Could you elaborate on the Charles Schwab issue? What is their exception to what other banks do by Schwab allowing accounts?

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

@dovygoodguy1296 Check this out: www.taxesforexpats.com/articles/investments/what-to-do-if-your-us-broker-wants-to-close-your-investment-account-when-you-live-overseas.html

[@lunazamoracreative]

I’m never thought of this being a problem but I’m glad you solved it before I thought about it!

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Perfect! Glad to pre-solve this one for you ;-)

[@BuceriasRodHardy]

We use iShop & Mail which brings down your mail and packages from their Laredo Texas main office to their offices scattered throughout Mexico. You can also use them to send mail and packages back to the US for delivery from Mexico.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Thanks for sharing Rod. That looks like a great service for those on the mainland. www.ishopnmail.com/

[@rvseeingyou]

Very informative! We signed up to a local mailbox carrier and had a horrible experience.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Oh no! Sorry to hear that. Was it one that physically moves your mail to Mexico? It seems like that should be had to mess up!

[@sharonl4821]

Great review - I've been researching for months and your video helped me make the decision. When I sign up I will use your link - thanks!

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks!

[@howardchestnut5782]

In the old days,mail was sent to Marina de La Paz, attn: Mary. She would put in a large box with other mail.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Nice!

[@movetoparadise]

Fabulous to see you finally decided to use one of these services. Month ago I commented on one of your videos about Ipostal. Thing is the forwarding service for actual mail you need to have delivered at Piaf is not good and have lots of restrictions. Wondering if you can address this issue in a separated video and explore in detail alternatives.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

@movetoparadise Thanks for sharing iPostal. I assume the restrictions you're talking about are for packages like prescriptions, vitamins, etc, correct? It seems the only option is to have someone bring them down privately (like when you have a friend coming to visit.)

[@movetoparadise]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico not exactly, the biggest challenge we have faced is to send proof of address in Mexico, so they can forward the mail here. Thing is we live in the jungle and there is not “right address proof” or any document to proof the address, therefore Ipostal declines to forward anything.

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Very good information, thank you!

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Glad it was helpful, Chris

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

Good information! Saved the video.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Wonderful! Thanks for watching Sherry

[@gregorriusadolphus2729]

LOL be careful, those margaritas will get you in trouble in some unexpected ways! Good info because I was wondering about this if I actually made the move to Mexico...

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Thanks Greg! Margaritas can lead to so many things... good and bad...

[@ipclifton1]

Thanks for making this video! I love how you called out your sister's magazine!!! Lol. You now owe her lots of margaritas😂

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Yup… she needs to redeem those in Mexico tho. I can’t afford US margaritas :-)

[@eprohoda]

so cool .

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Yes!

[@DestinationRetirement]

Saved for when I start living in Mérida longer. Of course I'll pop back here and use the affiliate link. Nice work not saying yes to any ole affiliate that comes along.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Thanks Amy!

[@Rhaspun]

It is a crap shoot when mail is sent to Mexico. This past Christmas I sent a Christmas card to a friend in GDL right after Thanksgiving. My friend didn't get it until February.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

It's great that she finally got it. With Mexico, it's almost a game. When something works out, you celebrate. When it doesn't work, that's just what you expected. FedEx and DHL are the only sure bets.

[@davebaker489]

I wonder if you could use a bank courier. Have your Northern bank send it to an affiliated Mexican bank. Just the important stuff ie legal documents etc. Or have a real mailbox rental company fed x everything that wasn't junk mail. Just some of my Rambling thoughts. Of course you could always make the southern move permanent . P n D

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

What the heck is a bank courier? Is that a Canadian thing? Like your "mounted police"? I think mailbox rental companies would end up charging something similar to collect your mail and forward it via FedEx.

[@davebaker489]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Ahhh . Banks have couriers. (they are more secure).

[@JuanRamirez-fx3tf]

Why Americans depend that much on physical mail? Most of my mail has been online for years. I live in Spain.

[@ednafronkelbarger8601]

Does the "Forward" option include the ability to send specific individual pieces of mail via FedEx or UPS? Or is that a global setting? I'd be concerned about individual things like getting credit cards sent to me once I identified them through the dashboard.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

The forward is piece by piece. I think it’s pretty safe as they code every piece of mail and record everything. So they could track down any “misbehaved employees.”

[@cinlee2964]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. How far in advance of moving do you suggest subscribing to mail service. Im planning on moving in apx 1 year. Please note- i enjoy your channel with varied and useful topics!!😂😂

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Thanks! I think you could set up the service a week before leaving. You can tell the USPS to forward your mail starting on a specific date (I've forgotten to do that and done it at the last minute, but that takes about a week to get set up...) Have fun!

[@cinlee2964]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico thanks!

[@scottswansen9758]

Would mail order medication be forwarded to your virtual address?

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

I believe it would get forwarded to your virtual address (assuming the envelope isn't marked "do not forward" and it is sent as first class mail.) But I don't think you could FedEx it over the border to Mexico.

[@KatKatz11]

Hi, is this still the best option or is there something better now you are using?

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

This is still what I'm using. I haven't heard of anything better.

[@KatKatz11]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexicoOK. Can we still vote in the US election living in MX? I know FL wants you to have a physical address not just PO Box to vote. Does this service give you a physical address?

[@2GringosOnTheGulf]

I got one for you. Our friend went to the Progreso post office looking for her mail, they said ya come look 😅 they sent her to a room in the back and gave her a pile of Mail to go through. 😂 She contacted us the next day and said you have Mail at the post office 😂😂😂 I gotta add this in a vid soon 🤡

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

I've heard similar stories! Maybe I need to try the La Paz post office and see if my mail ever arrived. They must clear it out at some point, right? Thanks for sharing.

[@dovygoodguy1296]

What do you mean you had q new address in North Carolina but have your home in Portland? How do they deposit checks without signing them? Could mail be sent and collected once per month at some US address and then sent to you? How would mailings be delivered directly to a Mexican address, whether in La Paz or in Guadalajara?

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

I'm not sure why the checks work without a signature, but it has worked with 2 backs for us. We could have Traveling Mailbox FedEx our mail to us monthly. I think that’s kinda how Postall works - except they drive the mail South about once per week.

[@dovygoodguy1296]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico So they have a plain option of holding your mail and shipping everything to you once a month. That eliminates everything that Kat doesn't like about their system, which I definitely sympathize with! So basically you would do a change of address to a Traveling Mailbox US address from your US home via the USPS and let traveling mailbox handle the rest until you return home. But then every winter isn't it a pain to switch addresses back and forth?

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

@dovygoodguy1296 Yes- on the Extended or higher plans, you can set up autoforwarding of your mail. If you're moving for less than 6 months, you can do a temporary address change with the US Post Service. You specify the start and end date. Longer than that and I guess you'd need to fill out a form before you return to "turn off" your forwarding to Traveling Mailbox.

[@dovygoodguy1296]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Does it do any good since mail delivery from the US to Mexico is poor anyway? So if it's done for less than 6 months it won't get to Mexico or might not get there.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

@@dovygoodguy1296 It would be sent via FedEx. Sending something US Mail to Mexico is really dicey.