United States: State Department Announces EB-2 India/China Immigrant Visa Cut-Off
The State Department has announced that no further EB-2 immigrant visa numbers will be authorized this fiscal year for applicants with priority dates of August 15, 2007 or later, effective March 23, 2012. However, foreign nationals with priority dates earlier than May 1, 2010 can still file adjustment applications with USCIS through April 30, 2012.
The State Department has announced that no further EB-2 visa numbers will be authorized for India and mainland China-born applicants with priority dates of August 15, 2007 or later for the remainder of this fiscal year, effective March 23, 2012. There is some possibility that EB-2 visa numbers could become unavailable for India and mainland China as early as May of this year.
However, through the end of this month, USCIS will reportedly continue to accept adjustment of status applications filed by foreign nationals with priority dates earlier than May 1, 2010, the cut-off date that was announced in the April 2012 Visa Bulletin. These applications are to be held until at least the beginning of Fiscal Year 2013, which begins on October 1, 2012.
EB-2 numbers for India and mainland China were used up quickly because USCIS adjustment processing has surged in recent months, and the agency requested many more visa numbers as a result.
As Fragomen has reported, the State Department recently alerted the immigration community to the sudden increase in EB-2 India/China immigrant visa usage. The EB-2 priority date cut-off for mainland China and India will officially retrogress to August 15, 2007 in the May 2012 Visa Bulletin, which is expected to be released in the coming days. The May Bulletin is expected to contain further information and an outlook on availability of EB-2 immigrant visas for India and mainland China.
Source: Fragomen