Concern Regarding Schengen Visa Application Status and Passport Tracking

Hello everyone,

I'm currently an F1 student here in the US. I recently applied for a Schengen Visa for the Netherlands on March 14 at the Washington DC consulate. On March 15, I received an email stating that my visa application reference number "..." had been forwarded to the Netherlands Regional Support Office. However, I haven't received any further updates since then. Interestingly, eight of my friends who applied with me received updates from FedEx on March 15, allowing them to track their passports. Unfortunately, I haven't received any updates from FedEx either.

Additionally, I'm encountering difficulties tracking my application on the VFS Global website. Whenever I enter my reference number and last name, I'm prompted to select a captcha repeatedly, preventing me from accessing my application status.

My primary concern at the moment is the safety of my passport, and I'm unsure whether I should be worried or simply wait for further updates.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advice on how to proceed in this situation. Thank you.