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Why has US suspended 8 IT companies from Green Card programme; what it means for indians? In a major move on October 8, 2026, US suspended eight technology companies from a federal labour certification programme used to secure employment-based Green Cards. by Ashmeet Guliani Updated: October 09, 2026 11:02 AM The US government has suspended several leading IT firms, including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro and more, from the Permanent Labour Certification Programme, alleging that the firms were abusing the immigration system. Here's everything you need to know about this programme, which lets companies apply for employment-based Green Cards for eligible foreign workers. US suspends 8 companies from Green Card programme. The Trump administration has now stepped up scrutiny of the immigration process in the US. In a major move on October 8, 2026, it suspended eight technology companies from a federal labour certification programme used to secure employment-based Green Cards for foreign workers. According to The Economic Times, these companies are Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe. The decision was announced by Vice President JD Vance, Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling and Attorney General Todd Blanche under the US Anti-Fraud Task Force. Under this decision, the US Department of Labour will not accept new permanent labour certification applications involving these companies. Moreover, it will not process their pending applications either. The suspension is expected to affect many Indian workers, as a large number of H-1B visa holders are from India. Why has The US suspended these 8 companies? But what's the reason behind this major decision? According to NDTV, the US government alleges that the companies' applications for Green Cards disadvantage American employees. The government has claimed that, since 2009, these companies have requested almost three million foreign workers. They have received over 230,000 H-1B visa approvals and more than 100,000 permanent labour certifications. Officials have also accused the companies of taking away hundreds of thousands of jobs from American workers by giving preference to foreign workers. Reportedly, Vice President JD Vance also criticised Microsoft and stated that the company had abused the immigration system. In 2025, Microsoft laid off 6,000 American workers while receiving approvals for more than 6,000 H-1B visas and filing 3,682 PERM applications. Nearly 1,000 applications were reportedly for the same positions held by American workers who were laid off. The increased scrutiny has also extended to American universities. JD Vance announced an investigation into the use of the J-1 visa programme for research scholars at nine universities, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford. Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Belterz FAQs. What is a US Green Card? A US Green Card allows a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States. Why did the US suspend the Permanent Labour Certification Programme for eight companies? The US government alleges that the companies misused the immigration system by giving preference to foreign workers over American workers. Who is the President of the US? Donald Trump is the President of the United States. Ashmeet Guliani is a Content Writer at Curly Tales with over three years of experience writing about food, travel, fashion, and lifestyle. With a B.Sc in Home Economics from the University of Delhi, her interest in reading and writing led her to pursue a career in writing. In her free time, she explores cafes, browses bookstores, listens to Hindi retro songs, and watches K-dramas! For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE. First Published: October 09, 2026 11:02 AM

Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Microsoft among 8 firms hit by green card suspension. Share the news iNDICA NEWS BUREAU- Microsoft, Adobe and six major IT outsourcing companies, including India's Infosys, Tata, Wipro and HCL, are facing a suspension of their green card sponsorship process as the Trump administration steps up investigations into alleged visa fraud and hiring practices. The eight companies named in the action are Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe. The suspension prevents them from filing new applications under the Permanent Labour Certification Program (PERM) and stops the processing of pending applications. Vice President JD Vance, who led the press conference announcing the action on Thursday, October 8, accused employers of using the H-1B visa program to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign employees. "The H-1B visa program is meant to allow companies to bring in really the best of the best from outside the United States of America for positions that are completely impossible to fill with American workers," he said. Vance specifically targeted Microsoft, alleging that it had laid off 6,000 American workers while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. U.S. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the suspensions followed ongoing criminal and federal investigations. He named the six outsourcing companies first, citing investigations led by the Labor Department's inspector general, Anthony DiEsposito. Microsoft and Adobe were included because of multiple active federal investigations. "We will not accept or process any pending permanent labour certification applications involving these companies," Sonderling said. The administration presented figures showing that the eight companies had collectively requested nearly three million foreign workers since 2009. They had received more than 230,000 H-1B visa approvals and over 100,000 permanent labour certifications. However, officials did not provide company-specific findings or details of the alleged violations during the announcement. The suspension could affect Indian technology professionals seeking permanent residence through their employers in the United States. Indian IT companies have long relied on employment-based immigration programs to send skilled workers to American clients. PERM is a key step in the employment-based green card process, requiring employers to complete labour certification before proceeding with many employment-based permanent residence applications. The H-1B program, by contrast, allows foreign professionals to work temporarily in qualifying specialized occupations. The action does not, by itself, cancel existing H-1B visas or green cards. Vance said the administration wanted the companies to change their hiring practices rather than leave the American market. Asked how long the suspension would remain in place, he said, "The suspension of PERM is gonna last as long as it needs to." He added that the administration had tools to continue the suspension indefinitely but wanted companies to improve their behavior. Attorney General Todd Blanche separately announced that the Justice Department was actively investigating companies suspected of favoring foreign workers over Americans. He said criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits were among the possible enforcement measures.

US suspends Permanent labour certification program for Infosys, Wipro, Tata, Microsoft and others, cites abuse of H1B program. 08 Oct-2026 21:42 PM Listen Stop By: FirstIndia Washington DC: In a far reaching move US Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling has announced that the US Government is suspending from the Permanent Labor Certification Program some of the largest IT outsourcing firms in the world which include Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini. The US Labour department attributed the suspension to multiple active federal investigations even as it also suspended US tech majors Microsoft and Adobe from the program. Speaking at a press conference on fighting visa fraud, US Vice President targeted the tech giants for alleged abuse of the H1B program "The H1-B visa program is meant to allow companies to bring in really the best of the best from outside the United States of America for positions that are completely impossible to fill with American workers. Unfortunately, the program has become rife with fraud," he said Attorney General Todd Blanche said, "This announcement today should send and does send a strong signal to every single employer in the United States that the Trump Administration will not tolerate discrimination against American workers." Vance further targeted tech giant Microsoft, alleging that the company had laid off American workers while benefiting from thousands of H-1B visas and green cards. Vance said Microsoft had laid off 6,000 American workers last year while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. "Microsoft laid off last year, 6000 American workers at the same time the company benefited from 6300 H-1B visas and almost 3000 green cards. If you do the math for every worker that Microsoft laid off they replace that worker with one and a half foreign indentured servants," he said. Vance said the administration's ongoing investigation had led to Microsoft's suspension from the programme. "That's a scandalous system we've allowed in this country for far too long but thanks to the work of this task force and the empowerment of the President of the United States we are going to stop because thanks to an ongoing investigation we suspend the program for Microsoft which means they will no longer able to take those visas and apply for permanent status," he added He also said the Trump administration wanted companies operating in the US to expand while prioritising American workers. "Our message to Microsoft in any other foreign or domestic corporation is simple. We want you to thrive in the United States of America. We want people to invest in the united states of America particularly the American technology sector, we are the biggest boosters of your industry. We want you to be able to grow and employ a lot of people but we want you to employ American workers. You are a great American company but you have to hire great American workers. You cannot lay off American workers and replace them with foreign indentured service," the US VP said. The US Labour secretary further said the department would not accept new applications or process pending permanent labor certification applications involving the companies. "We will not accept any new or process any pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies," Sonderling said. Sonderling said the companies named had collectively sought millions of foreign workers and received hundreds of thousands of H-1B visa approvals and permanent labor certifications. "Since 2009, just these companies alone have requested almost 3 million foreign workers. They received over 230,000 H1B Visa approvals and over 100,000 permanent labor certifications that's hundred and thousands of jobs that were taken from a American workers," the Labor Secretary said. The announcement comes a day after the US Department of Homeland Security proposed new fees for F-1 nonimmigrant students seeking to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT), describing the measure as an effort to protect American workers and strengthen the integrity of the immigration system. Under the proposed rule announced on October 7, DHS would establish a USD 70,000 fee per F-1 nonimmigrant student for initial OPT and a USD 30,000 fee for any subsequent OPT. According to DHS, the proposal is aimed at reducing the flow of cheap labour into the United States, combating fraud and abuse, and making it easier for American citizens to compete in the job market. "Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor, or a prize for those who game the system," a DHS spokesperson said. "DHS is upskilling OPT to require foreign students to justify their worth to employers. American workers should not have to compete against a program that has been turned into a pipeline for cheap foreign labor." Under existing federal regulations, eligible F-1 students can participate in OPT when the employment is directly related to their major area of study. Students require a recommendation from their designated school official and must apply for employment authorisation with US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Eligible students can receive up to 12 months of OPT at each education level, while those who earn degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields may qualify for an additional 24-month extension. DHS said the proposed changes followed fraud and abuse identified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, including schemes involving problematic worksites and "pay-to-stay" visa arrangements. The proposed fees would be paid by SEVP-certified schools before designated school officials recommend students for OPT in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and before students apply for employment authorisation with USCIS. DHS said the proposed fee would apply when schools recommend an F-1 student for any type of OPT and would not be tied to a particular employer. Collected fees would be deposited in the US Treasury. The department will accept public comments on the proposed rule from October 8 through November 9, while the Paperwork Reduction Act section will have a separate 60-day public comment period.