Want to try to track your paperwork from NVC to the Embassy?

[rouguewave 7]

Please read with the understanding that there are No guarentees here, but just to give you all some information.

It appears that NVC uses DHL as their shipper for embassy packages bound for beneficiary's country embassy's. I know this is nothing new, but on the DHL website (www.dhl.com), you can search for packages based on reference and package number. The first thing you have to do is determine the package number that MIGHT contain your beneficiary's paperwork. As of this posting, this might help or this might drive you crazy. If NVC or DHL changes how they do things, this could all fall apart, but here goes....

Being good beaurcrats, NVC seems to usually code the reference with some form of the following: 'EXP 26 NOV 2007A' where the date is somewhere near (on or before by a day or two) the actual date of shipment. If you KNOW the date they shipped to the embassy (NVC told me and others) then you can adjust the date accordingly and search on reference. You'll see a list of shipments to each of the embassys they shipped to with that reference. For example, if you access the website and enter 'EXP 26 NOV 2007A' into the search by reference area, you'll see 3 pages of shipments. Make sure that the date range includes Nov 26 & 27, but it can be much wider.

You can then look down the list and click on the specific package going to the right embassy. It will contain all the current tracking information, as well as allow you to sign up for updates. Of course, there is no guarentee that you've got the exact package, because it doesn't list the contents. But you can be lulled into a hopeful state that it does, and at least know when THAT package gets to the embassy.

The only anomoly I found was there were packages shipped with 'EXPEDITE IV SECTION' as a reference. You can see an example by looking up shipment #8177298920. I found this one by doing a search by number and feeding in blocks of 25 shipment numbers, starting with the highest from the most recent day of shipment, based on the reference sequence. It appears that the shipment numbers are in order, but NOT sequential. This is probably due to the fact that they use pre-printed forms for shipping, with the numbers printed on them. However, there are gaps in the sequence so don't expect to get 25 returns for 25 numbers requested. There was a place where the number sequence made a HUGE change, but I attribute that to them running out of forms on one pre-printed pack of labels and some shipping guy just started with another set.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

GOOD JOB POSTING IT ROUGUEWAVE!!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Very cool!! Good research. I will try this when the time comes. Should be soon....*rubs hands together*

[MR2nice 0]

Thanks for the information!

[Omizo_Tusha 0]

Thanks for your informative skills. You are appreciated.

[rae_and_scott 1]

Awesome, thanks rouguewave!

But gosh, doesn't it make you wonder... with the ability for individuals to track shipments all over the world made so easy these days, why can't they just email us our particular tracking number?! Is it so much to ask?

Yes, I guess it is.

Edited November 29, 2007 by rae_and_scott

[Zee Bee 61]

Amazing!!!

Excellent information. Even though my package arrived in September I just found it

Thanks

[edp333 9]

Thanks rouquewave!! It worked like a charm.

With a 72 lbs. package there must have been one or two more petitions included in the shipment.

[Abby-Ron 8]

Great info! Ive got to try this once I know that NVC receives my packet and sends it..

[Derrel & Lai 0]

The only anomoly I found was there were packages shipped with 'EXPEDITE IV SECTION' as a reference. You can see an example by looking up shipment #8177298920. I found this one by doing a search by number and feeding in blocks of 25 shipment numbers, starting with the highest from the most recent day of shipment, based on the reference sequence. It appears that the shipment numbers are in order, but NOT sequential.

Actually... (I'm an IT professional from a competitor of DHL)... tracking numbers ARE sequential... You just have to remember NOT to look at the last number since it is a check digit. That means, 9329627075, 9329627086, and 9329627090 ARE sequential (see the last 4 numbers? 7075, 7086, 7090 would be 707 708 709.... )

And of course this has LITTLE to do with the discussion of the topic, but thought I would let you know that they are NOT using handwritten airway bills, they are using an automated device to ship the items...

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Great info! Ive got to try this once I know that NVC receives my packet and sends it..

rlpolo78, that's a really cool avatar. How long is the loop? And how did you get that file to fit below the maximum size limit? Just curious... B)

[Abby-Ron 8]

Great info! Ive got to try this once I know that NVC receives my packet and sends it..

rlpolo78, that's a really cool avatar. How long is the loop? And how did you get that file to fit below the maximum size limit? Just curious... B)

Thanks!!! I think it has like 60 frames or something.. and each frame is about half a second so about 3 to 4 seconds I think. I had to post it in my website then used that to link it to VJ.com since their is a limit to 16kb if you upload it to VJ. If you can post your avatar to a site, just use that link so you can post your own image. Just make sure it its not bigger than 100px or else the image gets distorted.

[ddkm 0]

Great information...thanks a lot!

Now if only CSC could DHL our packages to NVC, life would be so much easier!

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Hey rouquewave....can i get a little credit here...

I spent hours on DHL trying to crack this!

[rouguewave 7]

Hey rouquewave....can i get a little credit here...

I spent hours on DHL trying to crack this! [/font

]

Yep, Byron spent hours trying to figure out how to find his honey's (Leidy) package so he could watch it when it left NVC. Based on his information, it took me less than 1 hour to find my honey's package when it left NVC. From that, I got the pattern locked down, wrote it up and posted it for others to use.

Not trying to get or steal any credit from my loud NY brother Just trying to help others along.