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My AME just called to let me know that my FAA Class 3 medical certificate had been issued and was sent to me via airmail from United States to China. Since April 7th, 2014 when it was dispatched, it has been over 2 months now and I still don't receive the certificate.

I called local postal office and was told I needed to find a 13-digits tracking number (e.g. AB123456789CD, 13 digits, with 2 alphabetic letters at the beginning and end of the string and 9 digits in between) of the mail so they could check for me. The problem is I don't have it and I have no idea where to find it on the https://medxpress.faa.gov website.

Can anyone help me on how I can get this number? What are my options should I fail to get ahold of the certificate?

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  • $\begingroup$ I disagree with the close vote due to not aviation related. IMO it is most certainly related to aviation. It may be too narrow, however. I would recommend rewording it along the lines of "I haven't received X yet, which is required to fly/attend flight school, now what can I do?" $\endgroup$
    – CGCampbell
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 15:49

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You're really asking a postal service question (and from my experience with the postal service you're probably out of luck, even if you had the tracking number: Unfortunately when the USPS hands packages off to other nations' postal services that's often the last tracking update - either the item gets to its recipient or not, but it's gone into a black hole).

In any case the answer to the aviation/FAA half of the question ("I haven't gotten my new medical certificate yet - what do I do now?") is much simpler, and involves more helpful people than international mail: "Contact the Medical Certification branch" (see here).

In this particular case you want to actually call them on the phone and speak to a human being to determine (a) if they have a tracking number, and (b) how to proceed to ensure that you have a valid medical certificate in your possession.
I know in cases like this the Medical Certification branch can also fax you a copy of the certificate (I believe these are valid for 60 days) while you try to get things straightened out and get the actual paper certificate in your hands.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks a lot for the help. I phoned them by the numbers here and the staff helped me by sending an electronic copy to my email and telling me to print it myself. I asked if the printed copy would hold the same validity as a mailed certificate and she said yes. Is this true? I mean this is way more easier but I'm not sure if I can really use this printed copy to attend a US aviation school? What's the difference between a printed electronic copy and a mailed certificate? $\endgroup$
    – datasn.io
    Commented Jun 20, 2014 at 15:36
  • $\begingroup$ @kavoir.com Please accept the answer above if it satisfies you, plus your additional question(s) might make an excellent second question. $\endgroup$
    – CGCampbell
    Commented Jun 25, 2014 at 13:01

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