Digital Nomads and Expats: Secure Your U.S. Home Address with This Flexible Solution

TL; DR: Looking for a fixed U.S. home address? VirtualPostMail’s TruResidence offers a flexible, secure way for people to manage their mail and maintain U.S. ties. With their flexible mail management features, it’s perfect for anyone on the go. Partnership Manager Terry C. and Marketing Manager Leilani H. shared with us some insights on how VPM’s address services — including the new TruResidence — are tailored for nomads of all types.

I have a friend who is never home. He was born, raised, and has legally lived in Connecticut his whole life — but he’s always someplace else, whether it’s London, Tokyo, or Warsaw. There have been so many times when my husband and I try to make plans with him and we’re hit with, “I’m actually in [insert faraway country here] this week.”

As a result, our home has become a sort of “home base.” We’re the address our friend puts down for Amazon packages or forwarding time-sensitive mail because he knows we’ll be there to receive it, so he doesn’t have to worry about porch pirates while he’s away.

But not everyone has a friend who can hold onto your Amazon packages while you’re away. Plus, in some cases — like voter registration, taxes, banking, or business registration (or even coupon fraud, as shown in “Queenpins”) — it’s downright illegal.

If this sounds familiar, then you’re in luck. There’s a simple and affordable way to secure a U.S. home address for all your mail and legal compliance needs.

It’s called TruResidence by VirtualPostMail (VPM).

If you missed our last talk with VPM, it’s a remote address solution platform that offers everything you need to meet business compliance requirements or to keep your home mail and address separate from your workplace.

TruResidence, in particular, is VPM’s newest solution designed specifically for digital nomads who need their own physical U.S. home address, while keeping their personal housing information private.

“TruResidence was really born out of all customer feedback,” shared Leilani H., Marketing Manager of VPM. “All these updates are because of our customers — both current and new.”

We’ll dive into TruResidence in a moment, but first, we’re going to cover what VPM provides as a whole.

When we talked with VPM last year, Partnership Manager Terry C. shared that its “ultimate goal is to act as a supporting role in helping small business owners (SBOs) expand beyond what they thought possible.”

This goal encompasses the golden trio of the VPM family — that is, TruLease, Virtual mailbox, and now, TruResidence.

• TruLease: Once you’ve TruStarted (OK — I’ll see myself out), you can rent an office easily and quickly in places where you need one, such as for Amazon storefronts. By renting an office, you’ll get your own U.S. physical address backed by a lease agreement and optional utility bill. This way, you can save on the cost of leasing a full office space that you don’t need. (Read more about TruLease here.)

But if you don’t need an entire package, VPM also offers two standalone address services, which are popular options for SBOs that just need a one-time or ongoing simple solution:

• Virtual mailbox: A virtual mailbox gives you a physical mailing address where your mail and packages are delivered. The mail is scanned and uploaded to VPM’s online platform, where you can access, manage, and automate your mail from any device. You’ll also get complimentary access to VPM’s registered agent services. A virtual mailbox, however, does not come with a lease agreement or utility bill as a mailbox address isn’t tied to a physical space.
• Registered agent: If you only need a registered agent, here’s the solution for you. Registered agents are there to receive legal and official documents on behalf of your business, such as tax documents or legal correspondence. They’re responsible for making sure your documents are relayed immediately so you won’t miss any important notices or deadlines. This service is free and only accessible with a mailbox, and must be in the same state that you select.

VPM’s services are SOC 2 certified — which means it verifies that VPM follows strict security and privacy standards, ensuring your (and your customers’) information is 100% protected.

VPM also implements HIPAA compliance, data processing addendum, and Business Associate Agreements.

While TruResidence would be a great solution for my frequent-traveling friend, it’s also a great option for business owners who live outside of the U.S.

Leilani described TruResidence as a good fit for customers who need a flexible, personal solution. It’s especially useful for small businesses, startups, or people who travel often but still want a U.S. home address. Think of it as traditional renting, but without actually living there.

“TruResidence was really never supposed to be part of something that we were looking at — but there was an obvious need,” Leilani explained. “Now, it’s our most adaptable product because it’s designed to meet various requirements.”

If you take a look at TruLease, you’ll notice it offers a similar solution — but I would recommend that for business purposes only. TruLease serves a different purpose for customers who need utility bills and lease agreements for eCommerce operations, such as Amazon stores, merchant accounts, and business bank accounts. Plus, an office address cannot satisfy home address requirements for personal accounts.

TruResidence is more for personal use so you can carry on U.S. accounts, such as bank accounts, investment accounts, credit cards, and taxes, as you travel. TruResidence also can’t be used for public-facing media or company formation documents. You can review all the recommended uses for TruResidence to see if this solution is the right fit for you.

(Check out the video below to get a clearer view of TruLease vs. TruResidence.)

You might be wondering: Why can’t I just use a P.O. box or virtual mailbox instead?

For starters, you can’t open a bank account with a P.O. box because financial institutions typically require physical addresses.

Another point of contention is that P.O. boxes don’t offer physical addresses, which is better for security and credibility purposes, including legal compliance (think taxes).

Plus, there’s a security aspect: Mail theft reports soared by 60% between 2017 and 2020, as thieves open credit cards under other people’s names or resell their goods. In fact, about 44% of Americans have experienced package theft at some point.

So, what does TruResidence do? Here’s what you need to know:

• Prestigious U.S. Home Address: When VPM says prestigious, it means prestigious. Your address is at a high-end condominium address.
• Mail Management: Use VPM’s platform to access your mail wherever you have an internet connection, thanks to its secure cloud storage server. From there, see what came in and easily manage it with the option to scan, forward, or trash it.
• Security: VPM secures all your mail the moment it’s received with a private, vetted courier.
• Optional Lease: Sign an optional lease agreement to rent a space if additional proof of address is needed (for example, applying for a driver license).

“TruResidence is really about that security of your mail receivable and then it gets transferred to our on-site premises, where it’s also secure,” Leilani added. “A home address is so much more flexible than a normal physical address now.”

VPM is constantly making adjustments to its address services to make sure it’s meeting all the needs of its customers.

That in itself is evident in the new TruResidence service, but Leilani shared there’s more up VPM’s sleeve — and this time, it’s for multiple users.

There aren’t too many details that Leilani can share yet, but these expansions will make collaborating with teams much easier. This may look like shared accounts, access control, and other flexible solutions so the onus of a certain task or process doesn’t always fall on a specific person.

Leilani emphasized that the heart of VPM’s address services is listening to the customers, adding, “We ask different questions about what’s happening, what can happen, and what problems they’re running into. We want to solve those problems before they actually occur, which is why all these products are transformed through listening.”

Leilani also hinted at some expansions within TruLease next year to include more address options. Right now, you can get addresses in California, Delaware, and Florida. And since VPM is all about customer feedback, let VPM know if you have a specific state request!

Learn more about the new TruResidence — or, if you’re curious, check out VPM’s other address services for small business owners.