The United States has reportedly suspended several major information technology companies from a programme that allows employers to apply for green cards for foreign workers employed on H-1B visas. The companies named include Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft, and Adobe.The programme, known as the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme, is an important step in the employment-based green card process. It generally requires employers to show that there are not enough qualified and available US workers for the position befor sponsoring a foreign employee for permanent residency.According to the report, the announcement was made by Keith Sonderling, a US Department of Labor official, in the presence of Vice President JD Vance, who leads the country’s anti-fraud task force.
The official reportedly stated that the department would not accept new PERM applications from the companies involved. It would also stop reviewing their pending applications. He accused the companies of taking millions of job opportunities away from American workers.The reported decision could create uncertainty for Indian IT professionals working in the United States on H-1B visas. Many foreign employees rely on employer-sponsored green card applications to obtain permanent residency and continue their careers in the country.However, the suspension of PERM applications does not automatically mean that all H-1B visas or existing green cards have been cancelled. The impact will depend on the scope and duration of the restrictions and the official rules governing the affected applications.The development could also affect the workforce planning of major technology companies that depend on skilled workers from different countries. Further clarification from US authorities will be important to understand how the reported restrictions will affect companies and their employees.
