Archive · 9 Oct 2026
US Suspends Eight Tech Firms From Green Card Programme
The US temporarily stopped eight technology companies from filing new or continuing certain green-card applications for foreign workers.
The applications are part of a programme called PERM.
US officials say the programme has harmed American workers and pointed to the companies’ past requests and approvals for foreign workers.
Nasscom, an Indian technology industry group, says immigration and the movement of skilled workers are different issues.
It says Indian technology firms have become less reliant on H-1B visas and have hired more workers locally in the US.
Nasscom also says relatively few workers move from H-1B visas to permanent residency through PERM.
Microsoft said some of its H-1B hires were already legally in the US before joining the company.
Separately, Vice President J D Vance announced an investigation into a research-scholar visa programme used by nine universities.
The US Department of Labour temporarily suspended eight technology companies from filing new or processing pending PERM applications.
The companies named were Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling said the firms had sought nearly three million foreign workers since 2009 and received more than 230,000 H-1B approvals and 100,000 PERM certifications.
Nasscom said immigration and skilled talent mobility are distinct issues, noting Indian technology companies have reduced H-1B reliance, expanded US hiring and see relatively few H-1B-to-PERM transitions.
US officials said the programme had disadvantaged American workers; Microsoft said some H-1B hires were already legally in the US, while Vice President J D Vance also announced a J-1 research-scholar visa investigation.
- Who
- The US Department of Labour suspended eight technology companies; Nasscom and Microsoft responded, while US officials defended the action.
- What
- The companies were barred temporarily from filing new or processing pending PERM applications.
- When
- Thursday; the articles do not specify a date.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- US officials said the programme had shut Americans out of the job market; Nasscom argued that the specific immigration pathway should be distinguished from skilled talent mobility.
US officials
Nasscom and Microsoft
Effect of the PERM programme
US officials
US officials said the programme had shut Americans out of the job market and that foreign-worker hiring had taken jobs from American workers.
Nasscom and Microsoft
Nasscom said the suspension concerns a specific immigration pathway and should not be conflated with skilled talent mobility; it also said H-1B-to-PERM transitions are relatively limited.
Use of foreign-worker visas
US officials
Vice President J D Vance criticised H-1B use and alleged that Microsoft laid off American workers while benefiting from H-1B visas and green cards.
Nasscom and Microsoft
Nasscom said H-1B visas have helped address short-term skill gaps and that Indian firms have reduced reliance on them while increasing local hiring. Microsoft said some of its H-1B hires were already legally in the US.
- Companies suspended
- Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe
- Programme
- Permanent Labour Certification (PERM), a green-card pathway for foreign workers
- Department of Labour figures
- Since 2009, the companies requested nearly 3 million foreign workers, received more than 230,000 H-1B approvals and over 100,000 permanent labour certifications
- Nasscom's position
- Immigration and skilled talent mobility are distinct; Indian technology companies have reduced H-1B reliance and expanded local US hiring
- Microsoft's response
- It said remaining H-1B filings for new employees involved people already legally in the US, and represented 1% of its US workforce
- Other visa action
- J D Vance announced an investigation into the J-1 research-scholar visa programme used by nine universities
- H-1B petitions
- The articles report that Indian professionals account for more than 70% of approved H-1B petitions annually
Sources
Immigration, skilled talent mobility distinct: Nasscom as US suspends IT firms from green card prog
US visa curbs on Tata, Infosys and Wipro should not affect talent mobility, says Nasscom
US Suspends Certain IT Firms From Green Card Process, Nasscom Responds
US Green Card Freeze Hits Indian IT Giants; Nasscom Has A Message For Washington