Politics · United States · 21 hrs ago
US suspends major tech firms from green-card labor certification program
The US Labor Department has suspended Microsoft, Adobe and several major IT companies from the PERM program.
The companies named include Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini.
PERM is a step employers usually need to complete to help foreign workers, including people on H-1B visas, apply for employment-based green cards.
Employers must show that hiring a foreign worker will not harm American workers’ wages or job opportunities.
US officials say the suspensions relate to concerns about fraud and the effects of foreign hiring on American workers; Microsoft disputes claims about its hiring practices.
The department says it will not accept new or process pending PERM applications involving the suspended companies.
Vice-President JD Vance said the suspensions would remain in place as long as needed, but the sources do not say how long they will last.
The U.S. suspended eight technology companies from the Permanent Labour Certification Programme, which allows employers to seek green cards for foreign workers.
The suspended companies are Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
The Labor Department said it would not accept new or process pending permanent labor certification applications involving the companies.
Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the companies had requested almost three million foreign workers since 2009 and received more than 230,000 H-1B visa approvals.
Vice President JD Vance said the suspensions would last as long as needed, while Microsoft defended its hiring practices.
- Who
- The U.S. Labor Department suspended Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
- What
- The companies were suspended from the Permanent Labour Certification Programme, which is used in the process of applying for employment-based green cards.
- When
- Thursday, October 8, 2026.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- The administration said the action addressed alleged fraud and protected American workers. The Labor Department said it was investigating whether companies had undercut American workers.
U.S. administration
Microsoft and other suspended companies
Purpose of the program
U.S. administration
The administration said the suspensions would protect American workers and address alleged fraud.
Microsoft and other suspended companies
Microsoft said it followed visa rules and that most of its H-1B applications last fiscal year were for existing employees.
Effect on U.S. workers
U.S. administration
Vance said Microsoft had laid off American workers while benefiting from H-1B visas and green cards.
Microsoft and other suspended companies
Microsoft said the vast majority of its U.S. employees are Americans and that its H-1B workers are paid the same as comparable employees.
We will not accept any new or process any pending permanent labour certification applications involving these companies.
There has been no company in the United States, unfortunately, that has abused this system more than Microsoft
only files H-1B petitions for those who meet the rigorous standards of this visa category
Every job in America should be offered to an American first, no exceptions
The U.S. Labor Department launched an enforcement drive called Project Firewall, according to iTnews.
Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the suspensions at a press conference in Washington, D.C.
- Companies suspended
- Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe
- Program
- Permanent Labour Certification Programme (PERM)
- Announcement date
- October 8, 2026
- Foreign workers sought since 2009
- Almost 3 million, according to Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling
- H-1B approvals since 2009
- More than 230,000, according to Sonderling
Sources
Infosys sees no material impact from US suspension of PERM applications
Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro and HCL among IT firms suspended from U.S. green card programme
US freezes Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys green-card applications
Trump Administration Cuts Off Access to a Major Immigration Program for Workers at Microsoft and Adobe
U.S. suspends Microsoft, Adobe from green card labor program in foreign worker crackdown
Trump administration freezes green-card immigration filings for Microsoft, Adobe
U.S. suspends green card path for H-1B workers at Microsoft and Adobe
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