When you sign up for a virtual mailbox or any commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA), USPS Form 1583 authorizes the operator to accept mail for you. The form requires two forms of identification, and the most common signup delay is showing up with two IDs that count as the same type.
ID type one: photo identification
- State driver's license or state ID card
- Passport or passport card
- U.S. military or government ID
- Permanent resident card
ID type two: address verification
- Vehicle registration or insurance card
- Lease, mortgage, or deed of trust
- Voter registration card
- Utility bill in your name
What gets rejected
- Two photo IDs with no address document (they count as one type).
- Expired documents.
- Social Security cards and birth certificates — not accepted for Form 1583.
- Photos of IDs that are blurry, cropped, or glare-covered (for online notarization).
How the notary step checks your IDs
If you complete Form 1583 remotely, an online notary verifies both IDs on camera before witnessing your signature. Our Form 1583 online notary checklist walks the whole appointment start to finish so you pass on the first try.
Picking the mailbox service first
The operator you choose determines how the 1583 gets filed and whether the notary fee is bundled. Compare options in our virtual mailbox services review and the mail forwarding and Form 1583 guide. Always confirm current requirements on the official USPS site.