US Suspends PERM Certification for Major Tech Firms Amid Immigration Crackdown
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Forbes India•09-10-2026, 19:35
US Suspends PERM Certification for Major Tech Firms Amid Immigration Crackdown
- •The Trump administration suspended eight major tech firms, including Microsoft, TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, from applying for Permanent Labour Certification.
- •US Vice President JD Vance criticized the H-1B visa program and tech hiring practices, drawing sharp condemnation from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
- •The suspension prevents foreign workers at these companies from seeking permanent residency through PERM, though current H-1B visa holders are unaffected.
- •Industry experts predict the ban will push tech companies toward increased offshore delivery and raise local hiring costs.
- •Affected firms like TCS and Microsoft have responded, noting minimal direct impact on their immediate workforce strategies and ongoing local hiring commitments.
Key Questions Answered
The US administration suspended eight global and Indian tech firms from applying for Permanent Labour Certification (PERM), including Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Capgemini, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Tech.
Issued by the Department of Labour, PERM is a certification that employers must obtain before submitting an immigration petition, ensuring qualified US workers are unavailable and that hiring foreign workers will not adversely affect local wages and conditions.
The suspension impacts foreign workers in the US seeking permanent residency or green cards through new or pending PERM applications. However, it does not impact individuals currently working on H-1B visas or their dependents.
