Archive · 12 Oct 2026
TCS, Infosys Downplay Impact of US Green Card Suspension
The US government has stopped eight technology companies from submitting certain green-card-related applications or moving pending ones forward.
This process is called PERM and is one step employers usually need when seeking permanent residency for foreign workers.
TCS says it used PERM only a few times in the past two years and does not expect the suspension to change its hiring plans or customer work.
It says it hires locally and plans to add 15,000 US workers over five years.
Infosys also says it does not expect a major effect and points to its US workforce and technology hubs.
US officials say the companies’ use of immigration programmes harmed American workers.
The companies and industry representatives point to local hiring and limited use of PERM.
Microsoft separately said most of its US workforce is American and that many of its recent H-1B applications involved existing employees.
The US Department of Labor suspended eight technology companies from filing new PERM applications or processing pending ones.
The companies named are Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
TCS said its PERM filings were in single digits over the past two years and expects no effect on its workforce strategy or customer engagements.
Infosys said it expects no material organisational impact and is willing to work with US authorities.
US officials alleged the companies’ practices harmed American workers, while industry representatives and the companies highlighted limited PERM use and local hiring.
- Who
- The US Department of Labor suspended eight companies: Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
- What
- The department stopped accepting new PERM applications from the named companies and processing their pending applications.
- When
- The suspension was announced on Thursday, October 8, 2026; company responses followed.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- US officials cited alleged misuse of employment-based immigration programmes and harm to American workers.
US officials
Companies and industry representatives
Effect on American workers
US officials
US officials alleged that companies’ use of employment-visa programmes excluded or harmed American workers.
Companies and industry representatives
TCS and Infosys said they expect limited or no material impact; TCS cited low recent PERM filing numbers and local hiring.
Scale of industry exposure
US officials
Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling cited more than 230,000 H-1B approvals and over 100,000 PERM certifications received by the companies since 2009, and said jobs had been taken from American workers.
Companies and industry representatives
Vineet Nayar said Indian IT companies accounted for less than 2% of PERM certifications last year. Nasscom said local hiring has expanded and immigration should be distinguished from skilled talent mobility.
Microsoft's visa practices
US officials
Vice President JD Vance accused Microsoft of benefiting from foreign-worker programmes while laying off American workers.
Companies and industry representatives
Microsoft said 80% of the roughly 6,000 H-1B applications it filed last fiscal year were to extend or change existing employees’ status, and that most of its US workforce is American.
- Companies affected
- Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
- Suspension scope
- The Department of Labor said it would neither accept new PERM applications from the named companies nor process their pending applications.
- TCS PERM filings
- TCS said its applications were in single digits over the past two years.
- TCS US hiring plan
- TCS said it intends to hire an additional 15,000 people in the United States over the next five years.
- Infosys assessment
- Infosys said it did not expect the suspension to have a material impact on the organisation.
- PERM purpose
- PERM is an initial step in most employment-based green-card applications; employers must demonstrate that hiring a foreign worker would not adversely affect US workers.
- Industry estimate
- Former HCL Technologies chief executive Vineet Nayar said Indian IT companies accounted for fewer than 1,400 of 117,849 US PERM certifications issued last year, under 2%.
Sources
US green card suspension won't impact workforce strategy: TCS
Infosys plays down US green card freeze impact, says local workforce offers cushion
'It Will Not Impact Our Workforce Strategy & Customer Engagement': TCS Reacts To US Suspension From Green Card Programme
TCS plans 15,000 US hires, says green card suspension won’t affect workforce strategy
No material impact: Infy on US green card freeze
'Won't Impact': TCS On Team Trump's Green Card Programme Suspension
