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US Immigration Crackdown: PERM Tightening Sparks Concern for Indian IT Employees and Green Cards
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CNBC Awaaz•08-10-2026, 21:07
US Immigration Crackdown: PERM Tightening Sparks Concern for Indian IT Employees and Green Cards
- •The US administration has adopted a strict stance on the PERM system linked to permanent residency and green cards, leading to the suspension of Cognizant's new PERM filings.
- •PERM is a crucial labor certification process used by US companies to clear the path for permanent employment and eventual green cards for foreign workers.
- •Indian IT sector employees are concerned as major firms like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCLTech maintain extensive connections with the US immigration system.
- •Restrictions like the one on Cognizant have not been officially confirmed for other major Indian IT firms, and previously approved green card applications remain unaffected.
- •The US Department of Labor emphasizes that these actions target potential fraud and protect American workers, urging stricter compliance on hiring, wages, and documentation.
Key Questions Answered
PERM is a process used by US companies to obtain labor certification, clearing the path for permanent employment and eventually a green card for certain foreign employees. It is not a visa itself.
The US Department of Labor has stated it is taking action against potential fraud in foreign labor and immigration programs and addressing cases that harm the interests of American workers.
The tightening of the process could cause delays in advancing the permanent residency process for foreign employees whose companies were about to initiate a new green card application, though previously approved applications are not automatically cancelled.
