The U.S. State Department’s June 2009 Visa Bulletin reflects a retrogression of more than four years in the Employment Second Preference for India. The Employment First and Third Preference categories remain unchanged compared to the May 2009 Visa Bulletin.
The U.S. State Department notes that the retrogression in India Employment Second preference cut-off date was necessary to maintain the number of visas issued within the annual numerical limit. The Department remarked that it is not possible to estimate at this time "whether or not this retrogression will apply throughout the remainder of the fiscal year."
According to the State Department, employment-based visa availability for the remainder of fiscal year 2009 "cannot be guaranteed," and that "establishment of cut-off dates or retrogression of existing cut-off dates, cannot be ruled out." The reason for this possibility is the continued "extremely heavy" demand for adjustment of status cases at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices that occurred throughout the year.
