; and (C) if the petition is accepted, submit to the relevant United States consulate notice of acceptance of the petition using electronic or other means assuring expedited delivery if the petitioner has indicated that the alien beneficiaries will apply for United States visas at such consulate. (2) Prohibition on certain reductions The Secretary may not reduce the number of positions an employer will receive pursuant to a petition that the Secretary accepts pursuant to this subsection because the employer hires or offers employment to a United States worker for the position before the date on which the employer indicated in the petition that workers were needed to begin work. (3) Conditional approval Once the Secretary determines that a sufficient number of petitions for H–2B nonimmigrants have been received to result in a likely fulfillment of the statutory cap, the Secretary shall continue to receive such petitions for that fiscal year and issue conditional approvals, unless the beneficiaries for visas for H–2B nonimmigrants are not subject to the statutory cap, in which event the Secretary will issue final approval. (4) Assessment of issued visas The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State and continually report the number of visas actually issued to H–2B nonimmigrants at United States embassies and consulate offices to determine if the employers that received conditional approval under paragraph (3) may be issued final approvals. (5) Final approval (A) In general Final approvals shall be issued in the order in which the petitions were conditionally approved. (B) Refund of fees The Secretary shall refund any fee submitted for a premium processing petition for a fiscal year that was submitted after the date the Secretary determines that the statutory cap has been met for that fiscal year. 6. Coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State (a) Electronic notification The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State to develop an electronic notification