The Trump administration has reportedly suspended major technology companies, including Microsoft, from filing green card applications for foreign employees through the PERM labor certification program.
The move could create significant uncertainty for thousands of skilled foreign professionals working in the United States who are hoping to obtain permanent residency and build long-term careers in the country.
The reported restrictions also affect major Indian IT service providers, including Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL, Cognizant and Capgemini.
The action comes amid federal investigations into alleged misuse of the PERM system, which requires employers to demonstrate that hiring a foreign worker for a permanent position will not adversely affect qualified American workers’ wages and employment opportunities.
US officials have raised concerns that the program may have been used in ways that disadvantage American employees.
Microsoft, meanwhile, has stated that the majority of its US workforce consists of American employees and that the company offers competitive wages.
The issue has renewed debate over immigration policies, overseas recruitment and the role of foreign professionals in the American technology industry.
If implemented broadly, the reported restrictions could disrupt immigration plans for thousands of foreign workers, including Indian IT professionals, who depend on employer-sponsored green card applications to secure permanent residency.
The development could also create challenges for technology companies that rely on international talent, while raising fresh questions about the future of skilled-worker immigration in the United States.
