diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/ausweisstatus.py b/ausweisstatus.py
index c4f1177..0cdc1bf 100755
--- a/ausweisstatus.py
+++ b/ausweisstatus.py
@@ -2,11 +2,33 @@
 
 import requests
 from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
+import sys
 
-URL1 = "https://ausweisstatus.regioit.de/antragsstatusausweis_regioit/?kunde=05334002"
+# parse args
+if len(sys.argv) != 4:
+    print(f"Usage: {sys.argv[0]} <P|R|ID> <Seriennummer> <Geburtsdatum>\nP: Personalausweis\nR: Reisepass\nID: eID-Karte", file=sys.stderr)
+    exit(1)
+
+passauswahl = None
+match sys.argv[1]:
+    case "P":
+        passauswahl = "B"
+    case "R":
+        passauswahl = "R"
+    case "ID":
+        passauswahl = "UB"
+    case other:
+        print(f"Invalid passauswahl: {other}. Valid options are: P, R, ID")
+        exit(2)
+
+seriennummer = sys.argv[2]
+geburtsdatum = sys.argv[3]
+
+URL1 = "https://ausweisstatus.regioit.de/aachen"
 URL2 = "https://ausweisstatus.regioit.de/antragsstatusausweis_regioit/statusrequest.jsf"
 URL3 = "https://ausweisstatus.regioit.de/antragsstatusausweis_regioit/statusresponse.jsf"
 
+# create session for requests to preserve cookies
 session = requests.Session()
 
 # get session cookie and javax viewstate
@@ -14,24 +36,31 @@ resp1 = session.get(URL1)
 soup = BeautifulSoup(resp1.text, "html.parser")
 viewstate = soup.find(id="javax.faces.ViewState")["value"]
 
+if not viewstate:
+    print("Failed to determine session viewstate", file=sys.stderr)
+    exit(10)
+
 # send post request with payload
 headers = {
     "Content-Type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded",
 }
 data = {
     "antragsForm": "antragsForm",
-    "antragsForm:passauswahl": "B", # B: perso, R: reisepass
-    "antragsForm:seriennummer": "AAAAAAAAA",
-    "antragsForm:geburtsdatum": "01.01.1970",
+    "antragsForm:passauswahl": passauswahl, # B: perso, R: reisepass, UB: eid-karte
+    "antragsForm:seriennummer": seriennummer,
+    "antragsForm:geburtsdatum": geburtsdatum,
     "antragsForm:j_id22": "Antragsstatus ermitteln",
     "javax.faces.ViewState": viewstate,
 }
-session.post(URL2, headers=headers, data=data)
+session.post(URL2, headers=headers, data=data) # this returns 404 for some reason but works
 
 # send get request to get current status
 resp3 = session.get(URL3)
 soup = BeautifulSoup(resp3.text, "html.parser")
 status_div = soup.find(id="statusAnzeige")
+if not status_div:
+    print("Could not determine status, please ensure the given serial number and birthday are valid", file=sys.stderr)
+    exit(3)
 status = status_div.find("strong").get_text(strip=True)
 print(status)