Archive · 12 Oct 2026
US Suspends Indian IT Firms from PERM Amid Visa Concerns
The US has suspended major Indian technology companies from a programme that can help workers get permanent residency.
The article says this fits into a wider effort by the US administration to limit immigration and foreign workers.
Indian IT companies filed less than 2% of the PERM applications in the period cited.
That may mean the immediate effect is limited.
But companies could face a bigger problem if more work-visa rules are tightened.
The article also mentions a $100,000 fee introduced for H-1B visas last year.
The visa decision comes amid other disagreements between the US and India.
These include US pressure on India over Russian oil and possible tariffs on countries that buy energy from Russia.
The US government suspended major Indian IT firms from the PERM programme, which offers a pathway to permanent residency.
The article describes the move as part of a broader effort to restrict foreign labour and immigration.
Indian IT firms accounted for less than 2% of 117,849 PERM applications filed from October 2024 to September 2025, according to ICICI Securities.
The article says broader work-visa restrictions could pose a greater risk to companies reliant on skilled foreign workers.
The decision adds to tensions in US-India relations, alongside disputes involving Russian oil purchases and potential tariffs.
- Who
- The US government and major Indian IT firms.
- What
- The US suspended the firms from the PERM programme, which provides a pathway to permanent residency.
- When
- The article describes the suspension as recent; it also cites PERM applications filed from October 2024 to September 2025.
- Where
- The United States, affecting Indian IT firms.
- Why
- The article presents the decision as part of a wider US effort to restrict foreign labour and immigration.
US immigration restrictions
Potential effects on Indian firms
PERM suspension
US immigration restrictions
The article frames the suspension as part of the US administration's effort to crack down on foreign labour and curtail immigration.
Potential effects on Indian firms
The article says the immediate effect may be muted because Indian IT firms accounted for less than 2% of the PERM applications cited, but broader work-visa restrictions could pose a more material risk.
Wider US-India tensions
US immigration restrictions
The article says the US is pressing India to reduce purchases of Russian oil and may apply tariffs to major buyers of Russian energy.
Potential effects on Indian firms
The article notes that India's services exports are a major source of foreign exchange and says the latest US action could further sour bilateral sentiment.
- PERM applications cited
- 117,849 applications were filed between October 2024 and September 2025.
- Indian IT firms' share
- Less than 2% of the cited PERM applications, according to ICICI Securities.
- H-1B fee
- The article says the administration introduced a $100,000 H-1B visa fee last year.
- India services exports
- $221 billion in 2025-26, according to the article.
- Potential tariff measure
- A new law paves the way for tariffs of up to 100% on countries including China and India that are top energy buyers from Russia.
- Russian crude exports
- From December 2022 to August 2026, China accounted for roughly half and India 37%, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.