1 hr ago
US Suspends Eight Firms From Green Card Program; Nasscom Separates Mobility
The US has stopped eight technology companies from submitting or moving forward with certain applications for workers to get permanent residency.
US officials say the programme has taken jobs away from American workers.
Nasscom, an Indian technology industry group, says this decision concerns one immigration process and should not be confused with companies moving skilled workers across borders.
It says Indian technology companies now rely less on H-1B visas and are hiring more people locally in the US.
Nasscom also says the number of workers moving from H-1B visas to permanent residency through this process is limited.
The companies work with many large US businesses, according to Nasscom.
The US action also includes an investigation into a visa programme used by research scholars at nine universities.
The US suspended eight technology companies from filing or processing applications under the Permanent Labour Certification programme, a green-card pathway for foreign workers.
The named companies are Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
US officials said the programme had displaced American workers; Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling cited nearly three million foreign-worker requests by the companies since 2009.
Nasscom said immigration pathways and skilled-worker mobility are distinct issues, and said Indian technology companies have reduced reliance on H-1B visas while expanding US hiring.
Vice President J D Vance also announced an investigation into the J-1 visa programme for research scholars used by nine universities.
- Who
- The US Department of Labour suspended eight technology companies, including Indian IT firms; Nasscom commented on the action.
- What
- The companies were suspended from filing new or processing pending Permanent Labour Certification applications.
- Where
- United States.
- When
- Thursday; the articles do not specify a date.
- Why
- US officials said the practice had shut Americans out of the job market; Nasscom said immigration and skilled talent mobility are distinct issues.
US officials
Nasscom
Effect of the PERM pathway
US officials
Officials said use of the programme had shut American workers out of jobs and described the resulting job losses as substantial.
Nasscom
Nasscom said the suspension affects a specific immigration pathway and should not be conflated with skilled talent mobility.
Role of foreign-worker visas
US officials
Vice President J D Vance criticised H-1B workers and companies using the programme; Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling said the companies had requested millions of foreign workers.
Nasscom
Nasscom said H-1B visas have helped address short-term skill gaps, while Indian technology companies have reduced their reliance on the programme and expanded local US hiring.
Key facts
- Companies named
- Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe
- Programme
- Permanent Labour Certification (PERM), a pathway used in applications for green cards for foreign workers
- US officials cited
- Nearly three million foreign-worker requests by the companies since 2009
- H-1B approvals cited
- More than 230,000 approvals for the companies since 2009, according to Keith Sonderling
- Permanent labour certifications cited
- More than 100,000 for the companies since 2009, according to Keith Sonderling
- Nasscom's position
- Immigration and skilled talent mobility are distinct issues; Indian technology companies have reduced H-1B reliance and expanded local hiring in the US.
- Additional action
- J D Vance announced an investigation into the J-1 visa programme for research scholars used by nine universities.
Quotes
Nasscom
Indian information technology industry association
“While the decision affects a specific immigration pathway, Nasscom has consistently maintained that immigration and skilled talent mobility are two distinct issues that should not be viewed through the same lens.”
livemint.com
Keith Sonderling
US Labour Secretary
“I am hereby suspending from the Permanent Labour Certification Programme some of the largest IT outsourcing firms in the world, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini”
livemint.com
Sources
Related news
US Suspends Major Tech Firms From Green-Card Certification Programme
US Suspends Major IT Firms From Green Card Sponsorship Programme
US Immigration Actions Put Indian IT Green Cards At Risk
US Suspends Green Card Filings by Indian IT Firms
US Suspends Major Tech Firms From PERM Green Card Programme
US Suspends Cognizant Green Card Filings Amid Visa Probe
US Suspends Labor Certification Program for Microsoft, Indian IT Firms
US Suspends PERM Processing for Microsoft, Infosys, Wipro
