Community Forums

AuntSmurf · 02-21-2008, 07:49 AM

We have done quite a bit of checking on this, but my stepson, Matt (a "know it all" who knows nothing about RVing) told me that Homeland Security had made some changes and that FT RV'ers now need a permanent physical address. We are planning on moving into our travel trailer this June, and will be selling our home to my stepdaughter. Not sure if we will keep the house as our mailing address, or just get a post office box for now as we plan on staying in the area for another 2 years. We are planning on changing things to South Dakota when we leave the Branson area.
Has anyone heard about this so-called change? I honestly think Matt is full of crap but want to double check.

AuntSmurf · 02-21-2008, 07:49 AM

We have done quite a bit of checking on this, but my stepson, Matt (a "know it all" who knows nothing about RVing) told me that Homeland Security had made some changes and that FT RV'ers now need a permanent physical address. We are planning on moving into our travel trailer this June, and will be selling our home to my stepdaughter. Not sure if we will keep the house as our mailing address, or just get a post office box for now as we plan on staying in the area for another 2 years. We are planning on changing things to South Dakota when we leave the Branson area.
Has anyone heard about this so-called change? I honestly think Matt is full of crap but want to double check.

Hitchhiker · 02-21-2008, 07:57 AM

I haven't heard anything about such a residency requirement, perhaps your stepson has misconstrued some of the adverse publicity regarding voter registration requirements that's been in the news recently.

Route 66 · 02-21-2008, 07:58 AM

Your stepson may have misunderstood what he saw.

Mail forwarding services are considered legal addresses in many or most or possibly all states.

PO boxes are never considered a legal address.

There has been some talk about Homeland Security and changes, but currently mail forwarding services are considered a physical address.

Mail forwarding services in South Dakota are quite acceptable for a legal address.

jfb · 02-21-2008, 08:28 AM

WA requires permanent physical address for vehicle and drivers' licensing, county auditors require permanent physical address for voting, USPS requires permanent physical address for P.O. boxes. Commercial mail boxes and forwarding service are good for getting your mail but are subject to "Private Mail Box" laws and regulations which can not get us by the above rule areas. Logical for Home Land Security to jump on this opportunity.....

LindaH · 02-21-2008, 11:14 AM

We need to first define what we mean by the term "permanent physical address." Most people appear to believe this means a "private residential address" such as a home, condo, or apartment.

However, in some states (such as South Dakota, Texas, and Florida, the most popular states for fulltime RVers to select as a domicile state), a mail forwarding address IS a "permanent physical address" and IS a legal address for ALL purposes (with the exception of South Dakota where you have to stay overnight in a motel or RV park and use that address for purposes of voter's registration...and if you have a CDL and want to keep it, you'll also need a "private residential address" in South Dakota).

Some states, such as Washington State which jfb talked about, require a "private residential address" for certain things such as driver's licenses. And Tennessee just recently disenfranchised many fulltime RVers from voting who were using mail forwarding services in that state.

AuntSmurf, if it were me, I'd keep your home address if at all possible as long as you are living in Missouri. There are many things for which you cannot use a PO Box such as driver's licenses and vehicle registration. Hopefully, your stepdaughter won't mind you continuing to use that address once she buys your house?

AuntSmurf · 02-21-2008, 11:25 AM

No, she wouldn't mind us using it. Nikki's quite a "Daddy's Girl" and would do just about anything for him. And, as long as we're in Branson, that's most likely what we will do. But when we leave the area we would really like to "re-locate" our addy as Missouri's tax system is nuts!