Guys and Gals,
Is it surprising that there is no hard evidence to back up the reasoning for this retrogression? I think not.
Here is what I think the reasons are for this retrogression -
1. Pure speculation from DOS and USCIS on the number of 245i cases and fear of huge backlogs because of these. They do not have any hard numbers on the number of 245i cases. Just to cover their a**, they threw the dates back by 5-6 years.
2. The DOS and USCIS realized that over the past few years (especially 04), the service centers went on an approval ramage with no regard for RD/ND. Because the PDs for everything was current, thousands upon thousdands of cases with PDs in 03 and even 04 got approved before the thousands from 02 and before. They realized this in 05 and with PERM pumping in more and more recent PD cases, the only way out for them was to freeze the approval of newer PDs by retrogressing the dates by several years. This way they are ensuring that cases are approved in a sequential manner. Although this is a good move, this sounds more like digging a hole for oneself and then getting out of it by implementing drastic measures. Had the USCIS approved cases in a proper sequential manner to begin with, this situation would have never occured.
3. Finally, I believe that the USCIS really wanted to meet the 6 month approval time by Sept 2006 that Bush promised in his first year. By retrogressing the PDs, they are again covering their a** by claiming that they can approve cases in 6 months if the PD is current but since there is a shortage of visa numbers, they can't meet that deadline. So 245i cases are being conveniently used as an excuse for incompetence.
Maybe I am being to cynical but I have lost faith in this screwed up system. My case has been abused even before retrogression. Whatever be the reasons for this retrogression, we are the ones who are suffering. The government and the USCIS is playing with our lives. The sad part is that no one really cares about this.
regards,
saras76