Guys, just today a near by huge company, the number one biotech company in world, won't take names here, laid off people from its R&D department. My two friends in that department, luckily escaped, and they are current in Nov VB and are preparing to file 485. One more friend, got laid off, but had just got the GC 6 days back. Luck. But not everyone would have been so lucky in last few years, as well as the other reasons people have mentioned.
One has to throw in a caution though, Spec has already baked in a drop off factor into the figures he has put up in facts and data, so it's not that we have not considered this.
I feel bad for people who suffered layoff or left for various reasons if they were not happy about it, but it may very well be the big help we need this year. FY 2010 we got FB 10k surprise help, FY 2011 we got the EB1 12k help (I think EB2 ROW caught up with usage later on) and low SYAs, and FY 2012 may very well turn out to be the unexpected help due to bad economy and H1 scrutiny taking a toll right now as well as through last few years on folks not having protection of EAD/AP.
For FY 2012, I still see Kazarian in place tormenting EB1A, EB1B, EB2 NIW. EB2ROW usage nothing has changed to suggest a dramatic surge in applications. EB5 US is trying to sell to people almost GC for money, smart investor will not put money in US right now, unless its throwaway cash and wants a backup for his kids in this country (read rich people in India and China). Doesnt look like USCIS is going great guns on 140 backlog at least right now. EB1C PP is not going to take place until next year. The EB1C PP and the 140 backlog reduction if happens, can cause problems.
This is all just speculation, just few weeks back we were thinking of doomsday case this year, with barely 18k SOFAD coming up, only till Oct 1st 2007 getting GC and so on.
We don't have data yet to speculate completely either way. Let's hope for the best.
ps: Q, I am really enjoying the laddu. I always say to my friend, that if something unfortunate happens and I get kicked out, I will go as no choice, but otherwise I love USA.