Picture this: You’ve made the bold decision to move overseas, embracing new cultures, cuisines, and adventures at every corner. All is well until you realize that your trusted mail handler (aka your parent) is getting ready to embark on a lengthy post-retirement vacation of their own. Suddenly, you’re tasked with finding a new way to manage your mail… and fast!

In situations like these, services like TruResidence and virtual mailboxes offer an invaluable lifeline to help you bridge the gap between your wanderlust and your need for a reliable way to manage your mail. Unsure which address solution best fits your lifestyle? Let’s dive into how TruResidence and a virtual mailbox compare with one another to help you make the right choice for your mail and personal needs.

What is TruResidence?

VPM’s TruResidence is a unique address service designed to provide you with a premium U.S. home address for managing your personal mail and accounts. Think of it like renting a physical residential space (i.e. a home, apartment, or condo), but tailored to meet the demands of your nomadic lifestyle.

Your dedicated virtual U.S. residential address enables you to receive and organize personal mail, open and maintain financial accounts, and stay connected with those closest to you while you’re on the move. It’s essentially your home-away-from-home, offering you the flexibility and convenience to live out your nomadic dreams.

At VPM, mail security is not something that is taken lightly. Your mail is hand delivered from the secure condo tower to the VPM processing center, where it is then processed, stored, and monitored in a secure facility equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance cameras and access control systems. You’ll have complete peace of mind knowing your data and personal information are safeguarded at all times.

Lastly, TruResidence offers the option to sign a lease in the event that additional proof of address is required. Whether you need to maintain a personal bank account while living abroad or meet other residency verification needs, you can request a lease agreement as an add-on service for an additional fee.

How TruResidence can be used

When you sign up for TruResidence, you’ll be able to:

  • Receive and manage personal mail from anywhere – TruResidence offers a safe and convenient online platform to manage your mail so you’re not stuck waiting around for important items. Once your mail is scanned, you decide what happens next: choose to have it forwarded, trashed, or recycled.
  • Open and maintain personal bank accounts – Use your U.S. residential address to open and maintain personal financial and investment accounts while living overseas. Each bank has its own individual policies, but most require a physical home address (not a PO box, virtual address, or virtual office address) to open an account.

It's important to point out that TruResidence is not suitable for customer facing profiles and platforms such as websites, business cards, Google Business pages, LinkedIn locations, etc.. For such purposes, you'll want to use a virtual mailbox instead.

What is a virtual mailbox?

A VPM virtual mailbox is your ultimate remote mail management companion, offering a prestigious virtual address and online mailbox to help you manage your mail from any corner of the world.

With a VPM virtual mailbox, you’ll gain access to amenities like:

  • Mail scanning – Once your mail is scanned and digitized, you can opt to have it opened, forwarded, or destroyed.
  • Package forwarding – No matter where you are in the world, your packages can meet you where you are. Get important, time-sensitive, and brand packages forwarded from the U.S. right to you.
  • Remote check deposit – With remote check deposit service, you can effortlessly deposit checks using your mobile device, facilitating quicker payment processing.
  • Complimentary registered agent service – Ensure your business stays legally compliant with free registered agent service in your state of choice.

Keep reading to learn more about the versatility of a VPM virtual mailbox.

How to use a virtual mailbox

From safeguarding your privacy to maintaining residency, here's a closer look at how you can leverage a virtual mailbox:

  • Protecting your privacy – You may be working out of your home address, but your customers don’t need to know that. Use your mailing address in lieu of your home address for an extra layer of protection and peace of mind for your business.
  • Forming an LLC or corporation – A virtual mailbox offers a professional business address that can be used for registering your business with the state.
  • Business cards and websites – Boost your business’s credibility and instill trust in potential customers and clients by using your commercial business address across marketing materials.
  • Renewing a state driver license – Maintaining a valid driver's license in your home state is essential for legal compliance and identification purposes. Use your virtual mailbox address to renew yours when the time comes.

It’s important to note that if you’re looking for a convenient address solution to help you launch an Amazon store or utilize Shopify payments, TruLease may be a better fit. A virtual mailbox does not provide the correct documentation for any of the aforementioned uses.

Finding the ideal solution

Whether you're a jet-setting digital nomad or a globetrotting retiree, finding the right mail management solution is essential for maintaining a seamless connection to your life back home.

If you’re primarily concerned with managing personal mail and accounts, TruResidence may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you're a business owner or professional looking for a comprehensive solution for managing your business mail and maintaining privacy, a virtual mailbox could be the perfect fit.

To learn more about these services and choose the one that best suits your needs, take a look at VPM’s TruResidence and virtual mailbox plans today.