2 hrs ago
US Suspends PERM Access for Eight Tech Companies
The US government has temporarily stopped eight technology companies from using a process called PERM.
PERM can be an important step when a company helps an employee apply for a green card.
A green card lets someone live and work permanently in the United States.
The suspension does not automatically cancel an employee’s existing H-1B visa or permission to work.
But it may slow down green card plans for some workers.
The effects depend on where each person is in the application process.
Workers nearing the usual H-1B time limit may need to check whether they qualify for an extension.
The companies’ overall operations may not be greatly affected, but some employees could face uncertainty.
The Trump administration suspended eight technology companies from using the PERM labour-certification process, citing alleged misuse under investigation.
The affected companies are TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
The suspension targets a step in some employment-based green card applications; it does not by itself cancel existing H-1B visas or status.
Employees with pending or future employer-sponsored green card applications may face delays or uncertainty, depending on their cases.
Workers nearing the general six-year H-1B limit could face indirect complications, while the overall operational impact on companies may be limited.
- Who
- The Trump administration and eight technology companies: Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
- What
- The administration suspended the companies from the PERM labour-certification process, a step used in some employment-based green card applications.
- Where
- The United States.
- When
- The action was announced on October 8, 2026; India’s Ministry of External Affairs commented on October 9.
- Why
- The administration said the action was intended to investigate alleged fraud and misuse of employment-based immigration procedures.
Limited immediate impact
Potential long-term disruption
Existing H-1B workers
Limited immediate impact
The suspension itself does not cancel existing H-1B visas or automatically require workers to leave the United States.
Potential long-term disruption
Workers approaching the H-1B time limit could face indirect complications if they depend on green card filings to qualify for extensions.
Green card applications
Limited immediate impact
The action is limited to a PERM process and does not automatically cancel an already-issued green card.
Potential long-term disruption
Employees whose applications depend on PERM filings may face delays or uncertainty, particularly if their cases are pending or have not yet begun.
Company operations
Limited immediate impact
The article reports that Indian IT firms have reduced reliance on H-1B visas and that TCS said the suspension would not materially affect its workforce strategy or customer engagements.
Potential long-term disruption
Those industry-level assessments do not resolve individual employees’ uncertainty or eliminate administrative complications if the restrictions continue.
Key facts
- Affected companies
- Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe
- Programme affected
- PERM, or the Permanent Labour Certification process
- Announcement date
- October 8, 2026
- MEA statement
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the suspension would not by itself affect existing H-1B visas or holders’ status.
- H-1B impact
- The suspension does not by itself cancel existing H-1B status or make employment unlawful.
- Potential employee impact
- Green card applications may be delayed or face uncertainty; effects depend on each worker’s circumstances.
- General H-1B limit
- The article says H-1B status is generally subject to a six-year limit, with qualifying extensions possible.
Sources
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