Archive · 11 Oct 2026
US Suspends Eight Tech Firms From Green Card Certification Programme
The US government has stopped eight technology companies from using a process called PERM while it investigates alleged rule violations.
PERM can help an employer begin a worker’s application for a green card, which allows someone to live and work permanently in the United States.
The investigation does not prove that the companies broke the rules.
The suspension does not automatically cancel workers’ existing H-1B visas or make their current jobs unlawful.
But some workers may have to wait longer for green card applications.
The effect depends on how far each person’s case has progressed and how the government handles pending applications.
Workers close to the usual six-year H-1B limit may have extra concerns because some extensions depend on earlier immigration filings.
The companies and employees are waiting for more clarity about the restrictions and investigations.
The Trump administration suspended TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe from the PERM labour-certification process.
The action, announced October 8, 2026, is linked to investigations into alleged misuse and labour-related violations; the allegations are not established findings of wrongdoing.
PERM is a step employers generally use to sponsor workers for certain employment-based green cards, and the suspension may delay or disrupt affected applications.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the suspension does not by itself affect existing H-1B visas or holders’ status; it is not a blanket order for workers to leave the United States.
Workers near the general six-year H-1B limit may face indirect complications, while the duration, scope and handling of pending PERM cases remain uncertain.
- Who
- The Trump administration and eight technology companies: Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
- What
- The companies were suspended from the PERM labour-certification process amid investigations into alleged misuse and labour-related violations.
- When
- The suspension was announced on October 8, 2026; India’s Ministry of External Affairs commented on October 9.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- US officials cited alleged misuse of employment-based immigration procedures and said the measures aim to prioritise American workers; the allegations have not been established as proven violations.
US government’s stated rationale
Concerns about fairness and worker impact
Purpose of the suspension
US government’s stated rationale
US officials frame the action as enforcement against alleged programme misuse and as a way to prioritise American workers and protect labour standards.
Concerns about fairness and worker impact
The articles stress that allegations are not proven violations and that investigations should be evidence-based, transparent and fair.
Impact on workers
US government’s stated rationale
The suspension targets PERM, not the H-1B programme itself; it does not by itself cancel existing H-1B status or require workers to leave.
Concerns about fairness and worker impact
Employees relying on employer-sponsored PERM filings may face delays and uncertainty, with potentially greater indirect consequences for some workers nearing the H-1B limit.
Industry consequences
US government’s stated rationale
The existing summary reports that TCS expects no material effect on its workforce strategy or customer engagements and that Indian IT firms have reduced reliance on H-1B visas.
Concerns about fairness and worker impact
The second article says companies may face recruitment, retention and workforce-planning challenges; the scale cannot be assessed without details on affected cases and suspension terms.
- Companies named
- Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe
- Programme
- PERM, the Permanent Labour Certification process
- Announcement
- October 8, 2026
- Investigation
- Articles cite allegations including misuse of immigration procedures and labour-related violations; allegations are not proof of wrongdoing.
- H-1B status
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the suspension does not by itself affect existing H-1B visas or holders’ status.
- Potential effect
- Some employer-sponsored green card applications may be delayed or face uncertainty.
- H-1B time limit
- H-1B status is generally subject to a six-year limit, with extensions possible for eligible workers under specified conditions.
- Unresolved details
- The duration and scope of the suspensions and the treatment of pending applications remain unclear in the articles.
