Mail forwarding

Each forwarder will likely have their own shipping options and prices to reflect each option.

I use AmericasMailbox because I don't need everything sent and would prefer to have some of my mail opened and scanned for me instead. They do ship internationally but I only have important things like credit/debit cards or government stuff like taxes forwarded physically.

I'm thinking of moving to Davao so I'm trying to get all the necessary items taken care of. One of my first questions is how do you get your mail forwarded? I have no.one here that would do it. I've read about some mail forwarding but haven't seen much really about them. Which ones are legitimate and reliable? How do they send your mail to the Philippines ? I have many other things I could use advice on if this is the correct venue. Thanks for your time and consideration. RegardsTravelnman59 - @Travelnman59

One example of a forwarder that some expats use is iPostal. They give you a street address to have your mail sent, like others I suppose. You wouldn't want everything forwarded; instead you want to see the mail first online, then pick out the envelopes etc. to open and just forward the important ones. It seems like a perfect solution BUT: Banks and other financial institutions have something called KYC (know your customer) with rules forced upon them by the federal government.

Now, it is perfectly legal for an overseas expat to live in the Phils and have accounts in the States. The problem is, might they suspect you are a m@ney l@underer, a dr@g dealer or a terr@rist operating overseas? For that reason, many or most of them want you to give them a physical address where you could actually live at (of course you aren't there most of the time but they may want real KYC address, not virtual). These institutions do not really suspect you are a criminal percse. and they really want your businesa but only as long as your being there does not add to their presumed KYC risk profile, so, they are pretty diligent with KYC.

They may question (they did ask me), Is your USA address real? Might they check the rather small database of mail forwarder addresses and find your's there and reject your address? In addition to giving a real address I gave them a real USA Google Fi American cell number that also works in the Phils as my e-sim.

Over the last few years I have been KYCd pretty much by my institutions over issues affecting purchases, 2FA and security; they know I am a permanent resident overseas but still want a physical address in the USA. They apparently think I need to be at least a partial resident in the US. Actually, I am but I don't have my own address  So I give them my daughter's address and say I live there when in the US...not a lie.

But it would be a lie if I give them an iPostal forwarder virtual address.

Once in a great while I have to ask my daughter to DHL me credit and debit cards and I have no longer any use for the other mail since in all cases, you can choose to have important communications from agencies like SSA and IRS send all communications online.

So, my answer to your question is, there are plenty of places in the USA to send your mail to for forwarding here (NOTE: This now requires a notarized USPS form to allow the company to receive your mail!). Your only problem may be your financial institutions' willingness to accept their virtual address. Or, at first they may accept but they may later reject it when they find out it is virtual.. Such are the joys of USA KYC and being an American expat. Yet many US expats havent complained, or noticed...yet. They have no problems but they may have been here for only a few years as well. The wheels of KYC can turn slowly.

If it weren't for my daughter and her address, I might have to switch to Phils banks and (their extremely low limit) credit cards. Maybe, maybe not.. Because depositing SSA payments in a Phils bank is possible but terribly inconvenient when you get sick and cannot visit the bank to pick up your cash (American SSA requirement, not the bank's) , that prospect might convince me to return home for the remainder.

If my bank and cc company were sure to accept a virtual address, iPostal would be a great solution. But even they will tell you that some places will not accept a virtual forwarder address. Not reassuring...

I'm thinking of moving to Davao so I'm trying to get all the necessary items taken care of. One of my first questions is how do you get your mail forwarded? I have no.one here that would do it. I've read about some mail forwarding but haven't seen much really about them. Which ones are legitimate and reliable? How do they send your mail to the Philippines ?
I have many other things I could use advice on if this is the correct venue.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Regards
Travelnman59 - @Travelnman59

One example of a forwarder that some expats use is iPostal. They give you a street address to have your mail sent, like others I suppose. You wouldn't want everything forwarded; instead you want to see the mail first online, then pick out the envelopes etc. to open and just forward the important ones. It seems like a perfect solution BUT: Banks and other financial institutions have something called KYC (know your customer) with rules forced upon them by the federal government.

Now, it is perfectly legal for an overseas expat to live in the Phils and have accounts in the States. The problem is, might they suspect you are a m@ney l@underer, a dr@g dealer or a terr@rist operating overseas? For that reason, many or most of them want you to give them a physical address where you could actually live at (of course you aren't there most of the time but they may want real KYC address, not virtual). These institutions do not really suspect you are a criminal percse. and they really want your businesa but only as long as your being there does not add to their presumed KYC risk profile, so, they are pretty diligent with KYC.

They may question (they did ask me), Is your USA address real? Might they check the rather small database of mail forwarder addresses and find your's there and reject your address? In addition to giving a real address I gave them a real Google Fi cell number that works in the Phils as my e-sim.

Over the last few years I have been KYCd pretty much by my institutions over issues affecting purchases, 2FA and security; they know I am a permanent resident overseas but still want a physical address in the USA. They apparently think I need to be at least a partial resident in the US. Actually, I am but I don't have my own address  So I give them my daughter's address and say I live there when in the US...not a lie.

But it would be a lie if I give them an iPostal forwarder address.

Once in a great while I have to ask my daughter to DHL me credit and debit cards and I have no longer any use for the other mail since in all cases, you can choose to have important communications from agencies like SSA and IRS send all communications online.

So, my answer to your question is, there are plenty of places in the USA to send your mail to for forwarding here (NOTE: This now requires a notarized USPS form to allow the company to receive your mail!). Your only problem may be your financial institutions' willingness to accept their virtual address. Or, at first they may accept but they may later reject it when they find out it is virtual.. Such are the joys of USA KYC and being an American expat. Yet many US expats havent complained, or noticed...yet. They have no problems but they may have been here for only a few years as well. The wheels of KYC can turn slowly.

If it weren't for my daughter and her address, I might have to switch to Phils banks and (their extremely low limit) credit cards. Maybe, maybe not.. Because depositing SSA payments in a Phils bank is possible but terribly inconvenient when you get sick and cannot visit the bank to pick up your cash (American SSA requirement, not the bank's) , that prospect might convince me to return home for the remainder.

If my bank and cc company were sure to accept a virtual address, iPostal would be a great solution. But even they will tell you that some places will not accept a virtual forwarder address. Not reassuring...

Thanks so much for the prompt reply and information.  I'm sure I'll have other questions later and it's reassuring to know there are people out there I can go to

I live in Davao and use Traveling Mail Box

I have had no issues with either my bank in US  (that knows I live here) or with Social Security, Schwab, or credit card companies.

I just changed my address on their website and made sure I got a confirmation of change.

About every 3 months I pay around $50 to have any important mail sent via Fed Ex. They also have an open and scan & email service that’s good if your not sure if the item is important or junk

Hey, that's exactly what I need to know.  I plan on living in Davao as soon as I can sell my house and get things in order.

I don't want to be too pushy  but would you object if I ask you questions about life in Davao?

Regards.

Richard

No problem

will try to answer

sent you PM

Thanks si much. I have a question about health insurance.  Here is my situation.  I want to purchase health insurance for my fiancee 45 , her daughter 12 and her mom 70

My age makes insurance for me prohibited but I would want them to have the best coverage I can afford

Can you recommend a legitimate insurance company? I have had some obvious scams.

On Facebook search for a group called

”Health insurance in the Philippines “

a lot of people use him

i self insure due to the low cost of medical treatment here

check out PhilHealth for your fiancée and family members

Thanks so much for your prompt reply

I'll check the website you recommend.

Regards