To collect mail from the post office that’s being held for you, bring a valid photo ID to the facility listed on your PS Form 3849 delivery notice, hand the notice or your tracking number to the clerk at the customer service counter, and they’ll retrieve the item. If you don’t have the notice, a tracking number and matching ID are usually enough.
Finding the Right Post Office
The back of the PS Form 3849 your carrier left behind lists the post office name, address, and the earliest date and time you can collect the item.1USPS. Picking Up Mail That is Being Held at Your Post Office Arriving before that time is a wasted trip, because the item may not have made it back to the counter yet.
Lost the notice? Enter your tracking number on USPS Tracking and the facility name, location, and pickup hours will appear once the package is checked back in. You can also open the USPS Post Office Locator on usps.com, click “Filter & Sort,” select “Pickup Services,” then “Pickup Notice Left Mail,” and enter your full delivery address.1USPS. Picking Up Mail That is Being Held at Your Post Office If online tools aren’t working, call 1-800-ASK-USPS.
What to Bring
A valid photo ID is required.1USPS. Picking Up Mail That is Being Held at Your Post Office A driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all work. The name on your ID should match the name on the mail.
Bring the PS Form 3849 if you still have it. The pickup goes faster with the notice in hand, but you can collect the item without it as long as you have your ID and, ideally, the tracking number.
If your photo ID still shows an old address, bring a second document that shows your current one, such as a lease, mortgage statement, or voter registration card. That helps the clerk confirm the mail is yours.
At the Counter
Go to the customer service window at the post office named on your notice. Hand the clerk your ID and the PS Form 3849, or give them your tracking number. They’ll verify your identity, pull the item from the hold area, and bring it out.
For accountable mail — certified letters, insured packages, or anything sent with Signature Confirmation — you’ll sign for the item before you leave.2USPS. USPS Mail Requiring a Signature – Accountable Mail
Pickup hours don’t always match the regular retail window. Some facilities open the pickup lobby earlier or keep it open later than the service counter. Check the specific location’s hours on usps.com or on the back of your PS Form 3849 before you head over, particularly on Saturdays or around holidays.
How Long You Have to Pick It Up
The post office won’t hold your item forever. For most domestic packages, the typical holding period is around 15 days after the failed delivery attempt, after which the item is returned to the sender. International mail is generally held for 30 days, though inbound Express Mail Service items must be returned after 15 days.3United States Postal Service. 766 Retention Period If you’re near the deadline, call the post office directly before making the trip.
Sending Someone Else to Pick It Up
If you can’t get to the post office yourself, another person can collect the mail for you. Write a short note on the back of the PS Form 3849 or on a plain sheet of paper stating that you authorize a specific person to pick up the item. Include both your name and theirs, and sign it.1USPS. Picking Up Mail That is Being Held at Your Post Office They’ll need to bring their own valid photo ID.
If you scheduled a redelivery online and chose “Customer Pickup,” you can name the person there. For redelivery to a USPS Smart Parcel Locker, they only need the redelivery confirmation email or text.4USPS. Authorizing Someone to Accept Your Redelivery
One limit to know about: items sent with Restricted Delivery can only be released to the addressee or an authorized agent, and a handwritten note won’t be accepted for those.5USPS. What is Restricted Delivery? For recurring authorization covering restricted items, USPS uses a Standing Delivery Order on PS Form 3801.6United States Postal Service. PS Form 3801 Standing Delivery Order
Skipping the Trip With Redelivery
You don’t have to pick the item up in person. Go to tools.usps.com/redelivery.htm and enter the tracking number or the barcode from the back of your PS Form 3849, then choose a new delivery date. Some areas also let you redirect the item to a USPS Smart Locker.7United States Postal Service. Schedule a Redelivery Not every address is eligible for online redelivery. If the system rejects yours, picking up at the post office is your only option.