Quick answer: The State Department's Immigrant Visa Scheduling Status Tool, updated November 6, 2026, shows that the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka is scheduling many documentarily complete cases from August 2025 for immediate-relative visas, December 2021 for family-preference visas, and September 2022 for employment-preference visas. The dates show substantial category-specific waits but do not guarantee an individual interview date.

This update affects Dhaka applicants whose cases are “documentarily complete,” meaning NVC accepted the required fees and documents. In today's uncertain political climate, families may understandably worry that silence means a case has been denied. The official data instead reflects the month and year for which NVC is scheduling most interviews in each listed category.

Plain-English Explanation

Think of the scheduling tool as a boarding display at an airport. It shows which group is generally being called, but it is not an individual boarding pass and does not promise when a particular passenger will move. For Dhaka, the display currently shows three very different points in the queue: August 2025 for immediate relatives, December 2021 for family-sponsored preference cases, and September 2022 for employment-based preference cases.

An immediate relative generally includes a spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen. Family-preference and employment-preference cases are subject to annual numerical limits, so visa availability under the monthly Visa Bulletin can affect scheduling in addition to local interview capacity.

For a broader overview of consular processing and family immigration, visit SanSha Law Office's immigration practice page.

Practical Impact

The Dhaka dates may help applicants understand whether NVC is generally scheduling cases near their own documentarily complete date. They are not individualized processing estimates. The State Department explains that appointment timing can also be affected by staffing, interview capacity, local conditions, case volume, transfer requests, vetting, and Visa Bulletin movement.

Example 1: A U.S. citizen's spouse assigned to Dhaka became documentarily complete in October 2025. Because the tool shows August 2025 for immediate-relative cases, the case may be approaching the group currently being scheduled, but the display does not guarantee that an appointment will arrive in a particular month.

If a long wait is affecting family plans, work, or travel, a consultation can help clarify the difference between petition approval, document completion, visa availability, and interview scheduling. You may request an attorney consultation for an individualized review without assuming that every delayed case has the same cause.

What We Know vs. What's Still Developing

What we know: The State Department's official tool was last updated November 6, 2026. It reports that Dhaka is scheduling most documentarily complete cases from September 2022 in employment-preference categories, December 2021 in family-preference categories, and August 2025 in immediate-relative categories.

What is still developing: The tool is updated monthly, and dates may move at different speeds or remain unchanged. The government also states that the tool cannot predict precisely when an individual interview will be scheduled. Political statements and online rumors do not change these published dates unless the Department of State announces an actual policy or operational change.

Example 2: Two siblings may have cases assigned to Dhaka, but one is the spouse of a U.S. citizen and the other is in a family-preference category. Even if both became documentarily complete on the same day, the scheduling tool may place them in different queues because visa categories and statutory limits differ.

Why Legal Strategy Still Matters

Before drawing conclusions from the tool, applicants should identify the correct visa category, documentarily complete date, assigned post, and whether a visa number is available. A preference case may be documentarily complete but still unable to move if the priority date is not current under the Visa Bulletin.

The scheduling tool also excludes some matters, including Diversity Visas, Afghan Special Immigrant Visas, adoption cases, fiancé visa cases, and cases awaiting an I-601A provisional-waiver decision. Those cases should not be compared directly with the Dhaka dates shown for the three covered categories.

What This Could Look Like For You

• Your case may be complete at NVC but still waiting for local interview capacity.
• Your visa category may follow a different Dhaka scheduling date than another relative's category.
• A current priority date may be required before a preference interview can be scheduled.
• A monthly date that does not move does not, by itself, mean the case was denied or forgotten.

Common Misunderstanding

The month displayed for Dhaka is not a deadline, approval date, or guaranteed appointment date. It represents the documentarily complete month and year for which NVC is scheduling most interviews in a category. Individual cases can differ, and the published date should be read together with visa availability and the case's own record.

Questions People Are Asking

Does the Dhaka date guarantee when my interview will occur?

No. It is a general scheduling indicator for most cases in a category, not an individual appointment promise.

Why is the family-preference date older than the immediate-relative date?

Family-preference cases are subject to annual numerical limits, while immediate-relative visas are not capped in the same way. Local capacity and case volume can also affect the queues.

Does a long wait mean my approved petition has been canceled?

No. Interview delay alone does not cancel an approved petition, though the case record and any government notice should be reviewed carefully.

If you are unsure how these changes affect your case, the immigration attorneys at SanSha Law Office can help you understand your options and plan for timely renewals.

More information about nationwide representation is available at SanSha Law Office.

Sources

• U.S. Department of State: IV Scheduling Status Tool
• U.S. Department of State: Visa Bulletin
• U.S. Department of State: Immigrant Visa Processing Posts

We hope this information helps you feel more confident as you navigate the immigration process. If you have any questions or need assistance with your specific case, contact us at SanSha Law Office today at 469-777-6161. Our team is here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to get started or for a consultation — we're ready to help you move forward.

Disclaimer

We regularly update our blog section to acquaint the community with the latest changes in Immigration policies. Please note the information in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be nor should it be construed as legal advice. We can promptly and efficiently represent clients located anywhere in the US or abroad on US Immigration Policies. If you seek further clarification, don't hesitate to contact SanSha Law Office at [email protected] or call us at 469-777-6161.