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Falling PERM Filings May Limit Impact of US Suspension
The US has temporarily stopped eight technology companies from using a process that can help foreign workers get green cards.
The government says the companies’ use of the process shut Americans out of jobs.
The process is called PERM, and it is an early step toward permanent residency for some workers.
The companies include several large Indian IT firms, as well as Microsoft and Adobe.
Recent figures show that some of these firms have filed fewer PERM applications than before.
TCS, for example, filed two applications in the 2026 US financial year, compared with 1,804 in 2024.
TCS and NASSCOM say companies now rely less on this route and hire more people locally in the US.
A former HCL Technologies CEO also said the number of applications was small compared with all PERM certifications.
The US suspended eight technology companies from the PERM programme, accusing them of shutting Americans out of the job market.
The companies include Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Cognizant, Microsoft and Adobe.
Tata Consultancy Services filed two PERM applications in US financial year 2026, compared with 513 in 2025 and 1,804 in 2024.
HCL filed 59 applications in 2026, while Wipro filed 523 in 2025 and Infosys filed 87 in 2024.
TCS, NASSCOM and former HCL Technologies CEO Vineet Nayar said falling or limited PERM use may mean a smaller operational impact.
- Who
- The US suspended eight technology companies, including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Cognizant, Microsoft and Adobe.
- What
- The companies were suspended from the Permanent Labour Certification programme, which can be a first step toward a green card for foreign workers.
- Where
- The United States.
- When
- The suspension was announced on a Thursday; the report is dated October 10. Application figures cover US financial years 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- Why
- The US government contended that the companies’ use of the programme had shut Americans out of the job market.
US government
Companies and industry representatives
Reason for the suspension
US government
The US government contended that the companies’ use of the programme shut Americans out of the job market.
Companies and industry representatives
The articles report that TCS and NASSCOM say Indian technology firms have reduced their reliance on H-1B visas and expanded US local hiring; they do not provide a direct response to the government’s accusation.
Likely effect on operations
US government
The suspension blocks the eight companies from using the PERM programme, a route toward permanent residency for foreign workers.
Companies and industry representatives
TCS said its PERM applications had been in single digits in the last two years and it did not expect the suspension to affect its workforce strategy or customer engagements. NASSCOM and Vineet Nayar also described the likely impact as limited.
Key facts
- Companies suspended
- Eight: Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Cognizant, Microsoft and Adobe.
- TCS PERM applications
- 2 in US financial year 2026; 513 in 2025; 1,804 in 2024.
- HCL PERM applications
- 59 in 2026, down from 323 in 2025.
- Wipro PERM applications
- 523 in 2025 and 257 in 2024; 169 of the 2024 applications were denied and 88 withdrawn.
- Other reported filings
- Infosys filed 87 applications in 2024; Capgemini filed 98 in 2026, 361 in 2025 and 300 in 2024; Cognizant filed 1,236 in 2024.
- PERM certifications
- Indian IT companies accounted for fewer than 1,400 of 117,849 PERM certifications last year, according to Vineet Nayar.
- What PERM does
- A permanent labour certification allows an employer to hire a foreign worker to work permanently in the United States.
Quotes
Tata Consultancy Services
Indian IT company that issued a statement about the suspension.
“Indian IT companies accounted for less than 1,400 of the 117,849 PERM certifications last year. Less than two per cent. The direct impact may therefore be smaller than it first appears.”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
“Our PERM applications were in single digits in the last two years, and hence we do not expect the suspension of the program to impact our workforce strategy and customer engagements”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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