US Reportedly Suspends Green Card Processing for Eight Major IT Firms, Raising Concerns for Indian Workers

The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly suspended Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) processing for eight major information technology companies, potentially affecting the permanent residency plans of Indian professionals employed in the United States. The companies named in the reports include Indian IT giants Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, and HCL, along with Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, and Capgemini. However, the official order, legal basis, duration, and scope of the alleged suspension have not been independently confirmed through the information available. PERM is a labor certification process administered by the US Department of Labor. It generally requires employers sponsoring foreign workers for certain employment-based green card categories to demonstrate that qualified US workers are not available for the position and that employing a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed American workers. Once PERM certification is approved, employers can proceed with the relevant immigration petition and subsequent stages of the green card process, subject to applicable requirements. If the reported suspension is confirmed, employees whose employers are preparing new PERM applications could face delays in beginning the employment-based permanent residency process. Workers with applications already underway could also be affected, depending on the terms and scope of any official action. Indian IT professionals may be particularly concerned because many already face lengthy waits for employment-based green cards, influenced by country-specific visa limits, application backlogs, and demand within particular immigration categories. The reported development has also raised questions about the distinction between temporary work authorization and permanent residency. Many foreign technology professionals work in the United States on H-1B visas while pursuing employer-sponsored green cards. However, a suspension of PERM processing would not automatically cancel valid H-1B visas or terminate every affected employee’s job. The consequences would depend on the individual’s immigration status, employment circumstances, and the specific provisions of any government order. According to the reports, the administration’s broader position centers on protecting American workers and preventing potential misuse of employment-based immigration programs. The reports also attribute criticism of certain companies’ hiring and immigration practices to US Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling and Vice President JD Vance. Claims concerning layoffs at Microsoft and the company’s H-1B visa and green card figures have also circulated in connection with the controversy. These allegations and figures, however, require independent verification and should not be treated as established facts without reliable supporting evidence. The number of employees who could be affected remains unclear. TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL maintain significant operations in the US technology market, making any confirmed restrictions on their employment-based immigration filings potentially consequential for workers seeking long-term residency. Nevertheless, the actual impact would depend on the number of pending applications, the duration of any suspension, the categories covered, and the availability of alternative immigration pathways. Until official documentation clarifies the reported action, the alleged suspension should be treated as an unverified development rather than a confirmed government-wide decision. For Indian IT professionals and their employers, the key issues are whether a formal order exists, which applications it covers, and how it may affect ongoing and future green card sponsorships.