Originally Posted by
Spectator
mygctracker,
I'm not sure it can be said to be a USCIS mistake. Rather it is a result of the Cut Off Dates not retrogressing earlier.
Generally, USCIS appear to have processed cases in VB order. Along the way, they have generated a large number of RFEs, which they then have to wait for a response to.
In the meantime, USCIS have continued to process the applications and eventually started on the January VB filers.
With the Cut Off Dates still meaning everybody was Current, any Jan VB cases that were adjudicated and found approvable had to be approved. To do anything else would have been unlawful if the visa request was granted. Clearly, the VO are still giving out visas for these dates.
Had the COD retrogressed earlier, then those cases could not have been approved and would have started to increase the Demand Data totals.
I think it was very difficult for the Visa Office. USCIS don't have an enviable history for approving cases quickly. I was slightly surprised the Cut Off Dates did not retrogress somewhat in the April VB.
Now we are left with all of April with the COD still at May 2010.
The VO do have the option of stopping allocation of visas to EB2-IC, if they think there are no more numbers available.
I am aware that my conclusions are based on certain assumptions, which might be proved incorrect. I've tried to figure the numbers using different approaches and reached the same conclusion. I actually hope I am wrong.
Even so, a "spillover season" consisting of the first 6 months, rather than the last 3 months is still an improvement. In terms of building an inventory and allowing as many people as possible to file their I485, the VO have done a very good job, even if people don't appreciate that fact at the moment..
My take anyway.