PS Form 1583 for a Virtual Mailbox: Step by Step

By Aaron Houston, PaperworkPath · Last checked 2026-10-25 · Notary

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Every virtual mailbox (a commercial mail receiving agency, or CMRA) must collect USPS Form 1583 before it can receive mail for you. Here's the process from start to finish.

Steps

Sign up with a mailbox provider and pick your address. Most providers give you a pre-filled Form 1583 in your dashboard after signup. VirtualPostMail, for example, says it provides the form after you sign up (VirtualPostMail help).
Gather two IDs: a photo ID, and a second ID that verifies the address you enter on the form. The form lists the acceptable types (USPS PS 1583).
Fill in your sections only. The agent (CMRA) fills in its own parts.
Sign the form in one of the ways USPS allows: in the physical or real-time video presence of the CMRA or its employee, or acknowledged before a notary commissioned in a U.S. state, territory or D.C. (in person or by video) (Federal Register, May 2, 2024).
Upload the signed form and ID copies to your provider and wait for its approval. Mail delivery starts after the CMRA verifies you.

Picking a signing route

Route	When it fits
Provider's own video verification	Your provider offers it (no separate notary needed)
Online notary	You're abroad or after hours
In-person notary	You're near a bank or shipping store

Online notaries: Notarize (Proof) · OneNotary · NotaryLive

Common rejections

The address on your second ID doesn't match the address on the form.
Using an outdated edition of the form instead of the one your provider gives you.
Missing signature or date.

Provider example

VirtualPostMail accepts online notarizations and says it will waive notarization if you send a clear photo of yourself holding your photo ID (same help page). VirtualPostMail (sponsored link)

Background on the rules: How to notarize PS Form 1583.

Comparing three virtual mailbox providers

Each provider's claims below come from its own website (checked October 2026). Prices change and depend on location, so check the current plan pages yourself. We don't list prices here.

Provider	What its own site says	Good fit if
VirtualPostMail	Mail scanning, check deposit, package forwarding. SOC 2 Type II certified. Accepts a foreign second ID and online notarizations for Form 1583 (help page)	You live outside the U.S. and need the 1583 step to be easy
iPostal1	4,250+ mailbox locations in the U.S. and internationally, with plan pricing that varies by location tier. Also offers an online notarization service (ipostal1.com)	You want a choice of street addresses in a particular city or state
Traveling Mailbox	Scans envelope exteriors, then opens and scans contents on request. Worldwide mail forwarding, check deposits, support 7 days a week by phone, chat and email. Operating since 2011 (travelingmailbox.com)	You're an RVer or traveler and want hands-on support

Whichever provider you choose, Form 1583 rules are the same: two IDs, signed in front of the provider (in person or by live video) or a U.S.-commissioned notary.

Disclosure: PaperworkPath is an affiliate of all three providers and may earn a commission if you sign up through these links. It doesn't change the price you pay.