Indian IT Firms Assess US Green Card Freeze; TCS Sees Limited Immediate Impact

Reuters reported on October 9 that Indian IT companies including Tata Consultancy Services were examining the Trump administration's move against selected employers' PERM labor certifications. TCS said it did not expect the suspension to alter its immediate workforce strategy. Analysts pointed to reduced reliance on PERM applications and more US local hiring as reasons the corporate effect could be limited in the near term. That is an assessment of business exposure, not a guarantee about each worker's immigration case.

The PERM process is an employer-led step in many permanent-residency applications. A targeted suspension may delay applications at the certification stage even if a large IT services company has enough locally hired employees to keep delivering contracts. Existing H-1B status is distinct from an employment-based green-card certification; a company continuing operations does not resolve an individual worker's pending petition. For affected professionals, questions about case stage, employer sponsorship and deadlines are more relevant than a one-day movement in the company's stock.

The administration says its restrictions address alleged labour-market abuse and support American hiring. Critics and some industry analysts worry that uncertainty could raise recruitment costs and drive skilled workers to alternate destinations. Business impacts depend on future staffing decisions, worker retention, the outcome of legal proceedings and customers' budgets. Indian IT shares also respond to technology spending and AI disruption, so attributing every stock-price movement to US visa policy would be misleading. Readers should watch official Labor Department statements and company disclosures rather than relying on dramatic unsourced headcount claims.