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U.S. Suspends 8 Companies From Green Card Programme
The US has suspended eight major technology companies, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Microsoft, from the PERM programme used in employer-sponsored Green Card applications.
US Suspends 8 Tech Companies From Green Card Programme
On 8 October 2026, the US government suspended eight major technology companies from a programme linked to Green Cards for foreign workers.
The companies are Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe. But what does this mean for foreign workers, especially Indian IT professionals working in the United States?
What Is a Green Card?
A Green Card allows a foreign citizen to live and work permanently in the United States. Many skilled foreign workers initially enter the US on an H-1B visa, which allows employers to hire foreign professionals for specialised jobs. Some later apply for permanent residency through their employer.
What Is the PERM Programme?
The Permanent Labour Certification Programme, known as PERM, is an important step in many employer-sponsored Green Card applications.
Under this process, an employer must show that there are not enough qualified and available US workers for the job and that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the wages and working conditions of US employees. The US Department of Labour has suspended the eight companies from filing new PERM applications and processing pending applications while investigations continue.
Why Has the US Taken This Step?
US officials allege that some companies misused foreign-worker programmes and hired foreign employees at lower wages instead of protecting opportunities for American workers. The suspension follows investigations into the companies' employment and immigration practices. The government has not publicly detailed all the alleged violations involving each company.
Will Existing Visas Be Cancelled?
No. The suspension does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas or Green Cards.
However, it could affect employees whose employers need to file new PERM applications or process pending ones to help them obtain permanent residency. This could delay the Green Card process for affected workers, including Indian professionals employed by these companies.
What Happens Next?
The suspension creates uncertainty for foreign workers waiting for employer-sponsored Green Cards. Its impact will depend on how long the restrictions remain in place and how the investigations proceed. For now, the key point is that the US has suspended a route to permanent residency through these eight employers. It has not announced a blanket cancellation of existing work visas or Green Cards.