Business Immigration Insights

While retrogression in the EB-2 China-mainland and India visa categories has been expected for some weeks, the State Department has now stated that effective March 23, 2012, no additional visas will be authorized for applicants in these categories with priority dates of August 15, 2007 or later. Fortunately, USCIS will continue to receive and process applications to adjust status for those with current priority dates under the April Visa Bulletin.  Individuals who submit their applications by the end of this month may be looking at an extended wait to receive permanent resident status, but can at least enjoy the benefits that come with having a pending adjustment of status application.  The critical question for affected applicants and their employers is whether retrogression in these categories will again begin to ease up starting with the October 2012 Visa Bulletin, but the answer will most likely not be known until September of this year.