Effective July 9, 2023, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 507.2.1.4 and 608.10.2, to reflect changes in Postal Service required methods and forms of identification.
The Postal Service is revising section, 507.2.1.4, “Methods of Filing,” regarding Internet Change of Address (ICOA) orders to reflect changes designed to improve online security and mitigate potential fraud. Customers are now required to go through a multi-factor authentication process that includes device-reputation verification and may require a one-time password validation for ICOA orders, in addition to credit card verification.
The Postal Service is also revising section 608.10.2, “Products and Services Requiring Acceptable Identification,” to include that in certain instances (e.g., COA) when an acceptable primary form of identification does not contain acceptable address identification, the Postal Service may require an acceptable secondary form of identification.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until July 9, 2023, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
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507 Mailer Services
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2.0 Forwarding
2.1 Change-of-Address Order
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2.1.4 Methods of Filing
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[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]
a. Mail or present PS Form 3575 to any Post Office, or as the Postal Service otherwise directs. Customers must provide an acceptable primary form of identification as specified under 608.10.2 and 608.10.3 when presenting PS Form 3575 at the Post Office.
b. Use Internet Change of Address (ICOA) at moversguide.usps.com. Customers using the ICOA method must:
1. Pass device-reputation authentication verification. If not, a mobile phone number verification may be required, and a One-Time Passcode or verification link will be texted to the customer’s cell phone.
2. Provide a valid credit card number for identity verification. The customer’s credit card is charged a credit card authentication fee (see Notice 123 — Price List). If online identity verification is not successful, the customer will be directed to a Post Office authorized to verify the customer‘s identity in person.
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
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608 Postal Information and Resources
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10.0 Forms of Identification
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10.2 Products and Services Requiring Acceptable Identification
[Revise the text of 10.2 by adding a new last sentence to read as follows:]
***In certain instances (e.g., COA) when an acceptable primary form of identification does not contain acceptable address identification, the Postal Service may require an acceptable secondary form of identification.
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 5-18-23
