Mar 27 2012

Visa Retrogression in Employment-based 2nd Preference Category for India and China Expected in May

The Visa Chief of the Department of State, Charlie Oppenheim, stated on March 22, 2012, that visa retrogression in the Employment-based 2nd preference category for nationals from India and China is expected in May. Oppenheim stated he believes that India and China EB-2 will retrogress to August 15, 2007. According to Oppenheim, demand for EB-2 numbers is high due to the progression of EB-2 dates from November 2001 – April 2012.

USCIS has stated that it will continue to “preadjudicate” adjustment applications received through April. These “preadjudicated” cases will be held in the State Department in the “pending” demand file, so that the cases will be ready in October or earlier in case current number use pattern changes, and the cases are needed at the end of the current fiscal year to ensure that the full employment-based permanent resident visa allocation is utilized.