Virginia Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)
Virginia Professional Services is a USPS-certified Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA). We offer secure mail handling, a professional business street address, and added privacy by keeping your home address off public records.
Get the maximum privacy protection for your personal information when you pair our Virginia registered agent service with one of our Business Mail or Virtual Office packages.
What is a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)?
A Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) is a private mail service authorized by the US Postal Service to receive mail on your behalf. Instead of using your home or business address, your mail is delivered to your CMRA’s physical street address. How do you actually get your mail? At Virginia Professional Services, we scan and upload your mail to your secure online account for easy digital access the same day it is received.
All Virginia CMRA providers are required to collect USPS Form 1583 from every client. This verification process confirms your identity and adds an important layer of client security and mail-handler accountability. For example, this extra security step protects your mail from loss, mishandling, and mail fraud. So you can feel confident that your mail is handled safely and professionally by a federally authorized business.
Why should I use a Virginia CMRA address?
A Virginia CMRA is more than just a mailing address, it’s an easy way to protect your privacy, present a professional business image, and manage your mail from anywhere. When you sign up, you enjoy benefits like:
- Privacy & Professional Image: Keep your home address off public records and still use a real Virginia business street address that builds credibility and trust.
- Secure Mail Handling: Your business mail is delivered directly to our Richmond, VA location handled carefully by trained staff.
- Anytime Access: We scan your mail and upload it to your secure online account, so you can view it anytime from your phone or computer.
- Flexible Plans: Choose a mail-scanning or Virtual Office package that matches your business needs and your budget.
Our CMRA service offers a safer, more convenient way to manage your business mail while keeping your personal information private. It’s a simple upgrade that makes running your Virginia business easier and more professional.
CMRA vs. Registered Agent address: What’s the difference?
A Virginia Registered Agent and a CMRA service two very different roles for your business:
- Required by law for every Virginia LLC or corporation
- Listed on state formation documents to receive official notices and legal service of process
- Must maintain a physical Virginia street address and be available to receive mail by hand during normal business hours
CMRA Service:
- A private mail-receiving and business address service for everyday business and personal mail
- Helps protect your privacy while giving your a professional Virginia street address
- Does not fulfill or replace the legal duties of a registered agent
With Virginia Professional Services, you don’t have to choose between the two. Our licensed registered agent service and USPS-certified CMRA mail service work together to keep your Virginia business compliant while providing secure, professional mail handling all in one place!
How Our CMRA Service Works
Virginia Professional Services applies the same high standards to our CMRA mail service that we have for our registered agent service. Every piece of mail is handled carefully, processed accurately, and made easy for you to access through a secure system.
- Use Our Virginia Address & Assigned Suite Number: Direct your business or personal envelope mail (no packages) to our Virginia street address using your assigned suite number, keeping your home address private.
- View Mail on Your Schedule: Incoming mail is opened, scanned, and uploaded to your secure online account so you can review it from any phone or computer, no matter where you are.
- Only Mail That Matters: We remove all the junk mail before it reaches you, saving you time and clutter.
- Forward Originals When Needed: Original mail is securely stored for 50 days. If you need some mail sent to you, it’s easy to request physical forwarding through your online account. We’ll ship it out to the address you designate for a small postage and handling fee.
Note: For security reasons, we do not offer physical pick-up of your mail at our location. You can have mail items physically forwarded to you for an additional fee. We cannot accept and hold packages for you, also for security reasons. You will need to have packages sent directly to you.
How Do I Sign Up for Your CMRA Service?
Signing up for our Viginia CMRA mail service is quick, easy, and paperless.
1. Choose a mail service package that best suits your needs and budget:
| Free* | Basic | Plus | Virtual Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Address | Business Address | Business Address | Business Address |
| 3 Mail Scans | +10 Mail Scans | +25 Mail Scans | Unlimited Mail Scans |
| Phone Service (90 days free) | Phone Service (90 days free) | Phone Service (90 days free) | Phone Service |
| Unique Suite # | Unique Suite # | Unique Suite # | |
| Conference Room Access | |||
| Month-to-Month Office Lease | |||
| FREE | $49/year | $99/year | $19/month |
2. Access your private online account to complete Form 1583
After choosing a Virginia mail-scanning plan, you’ll be directed to your private online account to complete USPS Form 1583. We clearly mark every required field, making the process quick and easy with no guesswork. And, if you have any questions along the way, our team is available by phone or email to assist you.
Once the form is submitted, we handle the required authentication using our in-house verification system. The entire process is fast, fully digital, and completely paperless.
Note: If you only require our Virginia Registered Agent Service, you will not need to complete the USPS Form 1583. As a state-certified Virginia registered agent, we are already authorized to receive official state correspondence and legal notices on your behalf.
3. Check your email for “new mail” alerts
Once your Form 1583 is processed and approved, you can start using our address and your assigned suite number for all your business or personal mail. We will send you an email alert every time we upload a new mail scan to your account. Just login from any secure internet connection to view, download, or print out your mail.
How to Fill Out Form 1583
Form 1583 asks for your:
- full name
- residential street address
- copy of photo I.D.
- proof of address
- digital signature.
Filling out Form 1583 in your online account is quick and easy. Here is all the information you need:
What forms of photo ID are accepted on Form 1583?
- U.S. State/Territory/Tribal Driver’s or Nondriver’s ID Card
- Matricula Consular
- Uniformed service ID
- U.S. University ID
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card
- U.S. Access Card
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Passports
- NEXUS Card
What forms of I.D. are not accepted?
- Social Security Card
- Credit Card
- Birth Certificate
- Concealed Carry Permit
What is accepted as proof of address on Form 1583?
- U.S. State/Territory/Tribal Driver’s or Nondriver’s ID Card (if not already used for your photo ID)
- Deed of Trust
- Current lease document
- Mortgage documentation
- Home or vehicle insurance policy
- Vehicle registration card
- Voter registration card
Why is Form 1583 required?
Form 1583 is required to make sure that only authorized CMRAs are operating within the state of Virginia. This protects you from dealing with disreputable mail service companies that might be scamming their clients and selling their information.
Who has access to the information on my Form 1583?
Only the CMRA and the USPS have access to the information on your Form 1583. This information is kept private and unavailable to the public.
What Are the Benefits of a Virginia CMRA Service?
Here are the primary benefits of CMRA service from Virginia Professional Services:
- Privacy Protection: Keep your personal address off public business records and safeguard your private information.
- Secure Mail Handling: All incoming business mail is received, organized, and managed exclusively by our authorized staff. Your mail is never sent out to a 3rd party for processing.
- Professional Business Address: Use a legitimate Virginia street address rather than a residential address or PO Box. This enhances your company’s credibility and builds a trustworthy reputation.
- Address Stability: Since we own our building, you receive a reliable, long-term Virginia mailing address that will not change due to lease expiration or relocation.
- Convenient Mail Access: Your mail is managed in one secure location. Unwanted mail is filtered out, and you can access the mail you do want anytime from your phone or computer.
Protect your privacy, ensure secure mail handling, and present a professional Virginia business identity with a USPS-certified CMRA address. Contact Virginia Professional Services today to establish your Virginia business address and select the mail-handling solution that best supports your developing business.
FAQs for Virginia CMRA Service
Do I have to submit the Form 1583 to get Registered Agent Service?
No, hiring us as your Virginia registered agent does not require the Form 1583. As a state certified registered agent, we are qualified to receive state business notices and legal mail on behalf of you and your business. That’s part of being a registered agent. However, if you hire us for extra mail receiving services for all your mail, like our Virtual Office or Digital Mail Scanning service, this does require the Form 1583.
Do I need to get Form 1583 notarized?
CMRAs are allowed to verify a 1583 in place of the notary requirement, so we’ll handle the authentication of your form to make the sign up process super easy for you.
Can I use one Form 1583 for more than one business?
No, you will need to submit a Form 1583 for each business or individual using CMRA services.
Does a CMRA service accept mail from all mail services?
Yes! A CMRA service can accept mail from USPS, UPS, DHL, FedEx, and more!
Can I use a CMRA if I don’t live in the USA and I’m not a US citizen?
Yes, non-US citizens who do not live in the USA can still use a CMRA, as long as the ID and proof of address requirements are met (see above). Non-US addresses are perfectly acceptable.
Can I use the same document for both ID and proof of address?
No, you will need to provide a picture ID and a separate document for proof of address.