US Green Card Suspension Hits Major IT Firms
The US has suspended PERM processing for major IT firms, including TCS and Infosys. Find out what this means for Indian workers seeking Green Cards.
8 Major IT Firms Face US Green Card Suspension
The US government has suspended eight major technology companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech and Cognizant, from a key employment-based Green Card process. Announced on October 8, 2026, the move halts new and pending applications under the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme for the affected employers while investigations continue. The decision could disrupt United States Green Card and US permanent residency plans for Indian professionals sponsored by these companies.
Why Has the US Green Card Process Been Suspended?
The Trump administration cited alleged misuse of employment-based immigration programmes and concerns that foreign-worker hiring practices could disadvantage American workers.
US Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the action, alleging that some companies had used the H-1B and PERM systems in ways that undermined opportunities for US workers. The investigations are ongoing, and the announcement did not establish final findings of wrongdoing against every affected company.
PERM is a critical step in many employer-sponsored Green Card applications. Employers generally must complete this labour certification before proceeding with the I-140 immigrant petition and, when eligible, the final Green Card stage.
Which Indian IT Firms Are Affected by the US Green Card Suspension?
The eight companies named by US officials are:
- Indian IT companies: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Cognizant.
- Other technology companies: Microsoft, Adobe and Capgemini.
The US Department of Labor said it would not accept new or process pending PERM applications involving these employers. The action is company-specific, rather than a blanket suspension of Green Card applications for all Indian nationals or all technology firms.
Will the US Green Card Suspension Affect Indian Workers?
The impact will depend on each employee’s stage in the Green Card process.
- Workers yet to start PERM: They may be unable to begin the standard employer-sponsored process through an affected company while the suspension remains in force.
- Employees with pending PERM applications: Their cases could face delays because processing has been halted.
- Workers with approved PERM certifications: The authorities have not clarified the treatment of every existing approval, so workers should not assume their cases have automatically been cancelled.
- H-1B employees nearing the six-year limit: Delays could complicate extension planning for some workers, depending on their eligibility and circumstances.
The suspension does not itself change the eligibility criteria for the EB1A visa for Indians, which is a separate self-petition category. The EB1 priority date for India and Green Card processing time also depend on the applicable category rules and visa availability.
For professionals considering alternatives, the EB-1A pathway may be worth exploring if they meet its eligibility criteria. Researching an EB-1A best immigration consultant can help applicants understand their profile, evidence requirements and potential options before choosing a pathway.
As investigations continue, affected employees should confirm their individual case status with their employer or qualified immigration counsel before making decisions about their US immigration plans.
For official information, visit the US Department of Labor.
Stay connected with Smart Immigrant for more updates on US immigration and policy changes.
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