In the early morning of July 2, the U.S. State Department indicated that it had received sufficient applications to distribute all of the remaining visa numbers for Fiscal Year 2007, and that the July Visa Bulletin would be amended accordingly. USCIS responded by indicating that all adjustment of status applications that will be filed in July pursuant to the Visa Bulletin will be rejected and returned to the applicant. In essence, not a single application for adjustment of status will be accepted in the month of July.

The joint announcements proved to be a crushing blow to permanent resident applicants who hoped to file for adjustment of status in the month of July. Even if the numbers had retrogressed in August, allowing applicants to file for adjustment of status in July would have provided many benefits. Adjustment applicants can obtain employment authorization and advance parole for themselves and their families, and are eligible for adjustment portability.

Our firm has started a letter-writing campaign to inform our elected officials in Washington about our displeasure with these actions. We encourage employers and permanent resident applicants to send emails and letters, or make phone calls, to their elected officials to register their feelings on this subject.