I am not sure what the excitement is about.
This is nothing new.
Since at least 1993, China has received 1,000 less visas per year, split 300 from EB3 and 700 from EB5.
It was the quid pro quo for the CHINESE STUDENT PROTECTION ACT of 1992 (S.1216 102nd Congress)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c102:S.1216: .
From the Bill :
The same reduction was also shown for this year in this document
http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/Web_...cal_Limits.pdf
It has been that way for as long as I can remember.
Since China represents the bulk of EB5 approvals, CO either has to wait until July to release numbers to China as spillover, or more likely since demand from other Countries has been so low, operate Quarterly Spillover, which would not have the dangers inherent in operating it in EB2.
The effects of the Chinese Student Protection Act will have no bearing on lowering the number of EB5 approvals, either in FY2011 or FY2012