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

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A NEW YORKER THAT'S NOT LOUD?????????

[Abby-Ron 8]

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...

Ah like a UPC barcode scanner.. thanks for that info..

[ddkm 0]

So if i wanted to see the packages that were shipped on the 3rd december, i would search using this reference: EXP 03 DEC 2007A???

It comes back saying that no shipments are found

Im confused!

[sweet_peach 0]

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.

This part is very true - the shipping numbers will not run in order because not every number is used in a sequence. Most of the time shipping numbers will run every 11 digits and turn to 0 when the last digit hits 6 - if not the numbers will repeat themselves... example if a shipping number is 987654321 then the next number will be 987654332

I hope this helps a little

[rouguewave 7]

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A NEW YORKER THAT'S NOT LOUD?????????

Nope, including my aunt and cousins from the West side.

That's why I live in Virginia, so I can hear New Yorkers at a normal volume.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

[jennybeni 0]

Thanks that seemed to work!

[rouguewave 7]

So if i wanted to see the packages that were shipped on the 3rd december, i would search using this reference: EXP 03 DEC 2007A???

It comes back saying that no shipments are found

Im confused!

Nope. Dec 3 would be your starting point. You can move forward or backward from there. First thing you need to know is the date your application was shipped from NVC. If you call them, they will usually tell you. All you need is a confident date when it shipped from their facility.

Then if you access the DHL website, select Track by Reference, and enter that date in the form 'EXP 03 DEC 2007A'. Just like you, when I entered Dec 3, it said No shipments found. But when I changed the date to 'EXP 04 DEC 2007A' then I saw that this reference was used on a whole BUNCH of packages that left on Dec 5. I'm guessing they use the Reference number for internal tracking purposes. If NVC did tell you Dec 3, then I don't know what to say. This is not a solid method for exactly tracking YOUR visa on its journey I'm suggesting here. It depends on the truth (from NVC), beauracracy, and procedures (deduced from NVC) as well as IT (thanks to DHL).

So, you need to call NVC and ask them when it shipped. If they say "Dec 5" or "Dec 4" then you're probably in the batch that just left and its on its way to your favorite embassy. If they don't tell you it shipped, or they don't tell you when it shipped then you won't be able to track it. Even if they DO tell you when it shipped, there is no guarentee here. Like I said in the beginning, this isn't an exact science.

Edited December 5, 2007 by rouguewave

[ddkm 0]

So if i wanted to see the packages that were shipped on the 3rd december, i would search using this reference: EXP 03 DEC 2007A???

It comes back saying that no shipments are found

Im confused!

Nope. Dec 3 would be your starting point. You can move forward or backward from there. First thing you need to know is the date your application was shipped from NVC. If you call them, they will usually tell you. All you need is a confident date when it shipped from their facility.

Then if you access the DHL website, select Track by Reference, and enter that date in the form 'EXP 03 DEC 2007A'. Just like you, when I entered Dec 3, it said No shipments found. But when I changed the date to 'EXP 04 DEC 2007A' then I saw that this reference was used on a whole BUNCH of packages that left on Dec 5. I'm guessing they use the Reference number for internal tracking purposes. If NVC did tell you Dec 3, then I don't know what to say. This is not a solid method for exactly tracking YOUR visa on its journey I'm suggesting here. It depends on the truth (from NVC), beauracracy, and procedures (deduced from NVC) as well as IT (thanks to DHL).

So, you need to call NVC and ask them when it shipped. If they say "Dec 5" or "Dec 4" then you're probably in the batch that just left and its on its way to your favorite embassy. If they don't tell you it shipped, or they don't tell you when it shipped then you won't be able to track it. Even if they DO tell you when it shipped, there is no guarentee here. Like I said in the beginning, this isn't an exact science.

Thanks alot, thats a great help!

I just called nvc actually and they said it was shipped 29th...good times!

[Jigi 0]

hi,

I hope DHL doesnt read this post... LOL

Good info to try

Jigi

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Very nice Thanks for the info

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

wowowowowowow that is SUPER COOL...i found my petition on there, sure enough, it arrived in naples on the 12/3...too bad i still have to wait for them to forward it to tirana (the correct consulate)...i wonder how i can track that shipment....

how the HELL did you figure this out?!?! i cannot even imagine.......

btw - I'M A NEW YORKER AND I'M LOUD TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brentsheila 0]

you can also call the Dept of State and give them your NVC Case number and ask them where your petition is at. they have computer access to that information. they have been very helpful when i call

[ssgrip 0]

I searched EXP 05 DEC 2007A and searched a few days' date ranges. I found pages and pages of lists of documents sent out from Portsmouth, NH. Every one I clicked on says "US Diplomatic Papers." I'm assuming this means immigration documents.

Thank you for the information about how to look this all up in DHL! It really works!

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

wowowowowowow that is SUPER COOL...i found my petition on there, sure enough, it arrived in naples on the 12/3...too bad i still have to wait for them to forward it to tirana (the correct consulate)...i wonder how i can track that shipment....

how the HELL did you figure this out?!?! i cannot even imagine.......

btw - I'M A NEW YORKER AND I'M LOUD TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was originally posted in The Colombia Club forum.....It had stoped working but I kept on trying and trying and trying...for like 3 hours and finally came with the way.....Rouqewave did a great job posting it and sharing it with everyone....Im so glad it is working for everybody