The United States has suspended a key employment based green card process involving eight major technology companies, raising concerns among Indian professionals seeking permanent residency in America.
According to reports published on October 8 and 9, the US Department of Labor has stopped accepting new and processing pending applications under the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme involving Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini.
PERM is an important step in the employment based green card process. It allows eligible employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency after meeting specific labour-market requirements. The Trump administration has justified its action by raising concerns about alleged misuse of the programme and its potential impact on American workers wages and employment opportunities. However, these allegations do not establish wrongdoing by every affected company.
The decision could create uncertainty for Indian technology professionals whose permanent residency applications depend on employer sponsorship through PERM. Delays may affect their long term career planning and decisions about remaining in the United States.
Importantly, the suspension does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas. It specifically targets the PERM process involving the named companies, rather than all green card applications across the country. The development comes amid broader scrutiny of employment based immigration in the United States. Its longer term impact will depend on how the restrictions are implemented and how affected applications are handled. For Indian professionals, the announcement highlights the growing uncertainty surrounding employment based immigration and the importance of monitoring official policy updates.
