Postal Consent Form (1583)
How to Authorize Earth Class Mail to Receive Your Mail
While Earth Class Mail's concept of putting your mail online is totally new, the idea of hiring another party to handle your mail is not. To prevent anyone but you from using our service to get your mail, U.S. Postal regulations require you to file a delivery consent form (USPS Form 1583) designating Earth Class Mail as your mail-receiving agent. This requirement is enforced by federal law, and applies without exception to all of our customers in and outside of the U.S.
NOTE: the consent form does NOT instruct the U.S. Postal Service to forward your mail to us, or tell us where to forward your mail. It only authorizes us to accept any mail that reaches us in your name, and to release it by your online request. To get your mail redirected to us, you'll need to notify mailers of your new address or file a Change of Address Order with your local post office. For more information, see our page on Redirecting Your Mail.
For every remote address you plan to use, each person or company that will be receiving mail through your account (except your spouse, children under the age of 18, and employees of your company) will need to send us a completed and signed consent form along with copies of the required ID documents.
NOTE: We cannot accept faxes, photocopies, or e-mailed files in lieu of the original forms. They must be physically mailed to the address below so the Postal Service can fully verify the signatures. Accompanying ID documents can be photocopied, or submitted by fax or email for increased speed and security. Details below.
Accessing and Completing the Consent Form:
The easiest way to complete your consent form is from your Earth Class Mail account! We've simplified the process for you by developing a special Postal Consent Form Assistant, available only to our customers. If you're the administrator of your account, you can access it anytime by logging in, clicking the Settings button, and selecting Postal Consent Form.
Alternatively, you can download the consent form as a PDF file — fill it out on-screen and print it, or print it first and fill it out by hand. To open PDF files, you'll need Adobe® Reader® installed on your computer. If you don't have it already, you can download it here for free.
Please take the time to read the provided instructions, and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. If you leave out any required information or documents, you may need to complete a new form before we can release your mail for pickup or shipping.
Notarizing the Consent Form:
Once you have the form filled out and printed, don't sign it yet. Your signature of the form will need to be witnessed and certified by a Notary Public or equivalent official.
Notaries Public can be found at most large post offices, banks, credit unions, corporate offices, and U.S. consulates and embassies, as well as many other locations (check your local listings or enter "notary [city, state]" into your preferred search engine).
The Notary Public will usually ask you to show two pieces of ID including your signature and/or a photo or physical description. ID requirements vary from state to state, so we recommend calling ahead to ask your Notary for specific recommendations.
If you are using more than one Earth Class Mail address, you'll need to submit multiple forms but only one form from each applicant needs to be Notarized. The Earth Class Mail agent who processes your form can verify the rest, as long as the signatures all match.
If you reside outside of the U.S. and only plan to use our addresses within the state of Oregon, your consent form does not need to be notarized. If you need a different address and a Notary is not available in your area, you may still be able to find a local official who's authorized to witness documents, such as an attorney or Justice of the Peace. Please ask them to apply their seal if they have one, and if you're not sure whether a particular type of witness will be accepted by the U.S. Postal Service please contact us and make sure.
Providing ID to Substantiate your Name and Address:
In addition to the consent form, each person planning to receive mail through your account (except minors and employees) will need to send us copies of at least two primary ID documents from List A, below. At least one of the two primary IDs must include the person's photograph, and at least one must show the home address as listed in Box 7 of the form. If you don't have a valid primary ID document that shows your current address, you can send two that don't plus a supplementary document from List B, below, that does.
If you list a business name on your consent form, you'll also need to include a document from List B, below, which substantiates the business name and address as listed in boxes 9 and 10 of the form.
List A: Primary ID Documents
- Armed forces, government, university or recognized corporate identification card
- Valid driver's license or state non-driver's identification card
- Passport or alien registration card or certificate of naturalization
- Current lease, mortgage or Deed of Trust
- Voter- or vehicle-registration card
- Home or vehicle insurance policy
NOTE: Social Security cards, credit cards, and birth certificates are NOT accepted as identification by the USPS.
List B: Primary ID Documents
- A business license or certificate of incorporation
- A utility bill
- A bank statement
- Any document from a recognized governmental or financial institution
Mailing the Form and Accompanying Documents:
You will need to mail to us:
- Your original notarized (if applicable) consent form for each Earth Class Mail address
- If applicable, an original notarized consent form for each mail recipient for each listed Earth Class Mail addresses
- Copies of ID, per the above requirements.
Mail to:
Earth Class Mail
Department 1583
15500 SW Jay Street, #101
Beaverton, OR 97006-6018