The invention comprises a computer implemented system and process for delivery status notification of an electronic message, the system and process comprising: inserting into the electronic message a request for the delivery status notification; sending the electronic message to a recipient address; receiving a data packet having the delivery status; inserting the delivery status into the electronic message; and displaying a symbolic representation of the delivery status. In one embodiment of the present invention, the data packet is an administrative data packet having no substantive content. Additionally, an embodiment of the present invention may further comprise: receiving the electronic message; identifying a request for delivery status notification in the electronic message; identifying a return address in the electronic message; determining the delivery status of the electronic message; and sending an administrative data packet to the return address, the administrative data packet having the delivery status of the electronic message.