Trump Halts PERM Green Card Cases at Eight Tech Firms: Impact on Indians

On October 8, 2026, the Trump administration announced company-specific suspensions under the US Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme. Reuters named Microsoft, Adobe, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant and Capgemini. Officials said new PERM filings and processing of pending applications at these employers would be paused. They alleged misuse of the labour-certification system; those allegations are government claims, not court findings. PERM is an employer-led certification often required in employment-based permanent-residency cases, not the document that grants a temporary H-1B visa.

A worker employed by one of the named firms who was preparing to file PERM, or already awaiting labor certification, may face delays in that part of the green-card process. Workers with already approved petitions, other immigration categories or different employers may be in a different position. The suspension does not itself revoke existing H-1B status, cancel every green-card application or mean all affected employees must leave the United States. The Department of Labor explains that employers file labor certifications and that approval is normally followed by separate immigration steps. Workers should identify which stage their own case has reached before making plans.

The administration says the measures are intended to protect American workers against unfair competition and alleged hiring abuses. Microsoft has contested the characterisation of its hiring and says much of its H-1B paperwork concerns existing staff. Critics warn that blocking permanent-residence pathways could make recruitment and long-term retention harder. These competing claims do not establish the eventual outcome of individual investigations. As of October 9, the duration and legal resolution of the company-specific restrictions remain uncertain. Anyone facing a deadline should confirm notices with the employer and a qualified immigration attorney. This is reporting, not personal legal advice.