A major development in the US immigration system could affect Indian IT professionals seeking permanent residency in the United States. The US Department of Labor has suspended several major IT outsourcing companies from the Permanent Labor Certification Program, commonly known as PERM.
The companies named in the announcement include Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini. Microsoft and Adobe have also been suspended, with US officials citing multiple active federal investigations in their cases.
But what does this actually mean for workers?
The PERM program is an important step for many employment-based Green Card applications. Under the process, an employer generally has to show that there is no qualified, willing and available US worker for a specific position before sponsoring a foreign worker for permanent residency.
US Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the department will not accept new or process pending permanent labor certification applications involving the suspended companies. The administration has linked the action to concerns about alleged abuse and fraud in foreign-worker programs.
The development could be particularly important for Indian technology workers because many Indian professionals in the US depend on employer-sponsored immigration pathways. Delays in the PERM stage can create additional uncertainty for workers waiting to progress toward permanent residency.
The announcement also comes as the Trump administration continues to increase scrutiny of employment-based immigration programs. Vice President JD Vance said the administration wants American companies to prioritize hiring US workers.
For employees of the affected companies, one important question remains: What happens to existing Green Card applications and workers whose immigration timelines are already running?
The impact will depend on the status of each individual case. The suspension does not mean that every Indian employee of these companies automatically loses their visa or Green Card eligibility. However, new and pending PERM labour certification applications involving the suspended companies face a halt under the announced action.
The move is likely to attract close attention in India, particularly among IT professionals working in the US and those planning to move there through employment-based immigration.
As more details emerge, employees and employers will be watching closely for clarification on how long the suspensions will remain in place and what steps the affected companies can take next.