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US Suspends PERM Green-Card Route for Eight Major Tech Firms
The US government has stopped eight large companies from using a process called PERM for now.
PERM is one step employers generally need before helping some workers get permanent-resident status, or a green card.
It is different from an H-1B visa, which lets eligible professionals work in the US temporarily.
The Department of Labor says the suspensions are connected to investigations.
The companies named are TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft, and Adobe.
TCS says it has used PERM only a few times recently and plans to hire more people in the US.
Microsoft says most of its recent H-1B filings were for workers already employed there.
Existing H-1B visas and green cards are not canceled by the PERM suspensions, but some green-card cases could be delayed.
The US Department of Labor suspended eight companies from the PERM process amid federal investigations.
The suspension blocks new PERM applications and pauses processing of pending ones while it remains in force.
PERM is a labor-certification step employers generally need before sponsoring workers for certain employment-based green cards.
TCS says its PERM applications were in the single digits over the past two years and plans to hire 15,000 people in the US over five years.
Microsoft says about 80% of roughly 6,000 H-1B filings last fiscal year involved extensions or status changes for existing employees.
- Who
- The US Department of Labor suspended TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft, and Adobe from the PERM process.
- What
- The department will not accept new PERM applications involving the companies or process pending applications while the suspensions remain in force.
- Where
- United States
- When
- The action was announced on October 8; the article does not specify the year.
- Why
- The Trump administration says the action is part of efforts to address alleged abuse of employment-based immigration programs and protect American jobs; investigations are ongoing.
Administration's rationale
Companies' responses
Purpose and effect of the action
Administration's rationale
The administration says enforcement is intended to address alleged abuse of employment-based immigration programs and protect American jobs.
Companies' responses
The companies emphasize that the action concerns PERM, not existing H-1B visas or green cards, and say their workforce strategies rely increasingly on US-based hiring.
Use of foreign-worker programs
Administration's rationale
The administration has stepped up scrutiny of employment-based immigration programs, alleging that they have been abused.
Companies' responses
Microsoft says most of its recent H-1B filings were for current employees and says visa holders receive pay comparable to workers doing similar jobs; TCS says its recent PERM use was in the single digits.
Key facts
- Companies affected
- TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft, and Adobe
- Suspension announced
- October 8
- PERM's role
- A labor-certification process generally used before certain employer-sponsored permanent-residency cases proceed to the immigration stage.
- Effect on applications
- No new PERM applications involving the companies will be accepted, and pending ones will not be processed while the action remains in force.
- Existing immigration status
- The suspensions do not by themselves cancel existing H-1B visas or green cards.
- TCS hiring plan
- The company says it plans to hire another 15,000 people in the US over the next five years.
- Microsoft H-1B filings
- Microsoft says about 80% of roughly 6,000 filings in the last fiscal year were extensions or changes of status for existing employees.
Quotes
Microsoft
Technology company affected by the PERM suspension
“These were not to hire new people.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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