US freezes green card applications from Microsoft, Adobe and IT firms

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 22:25 · Archive

The Trump administration has suspended green-card filings by Microsoft, Adobe and major IT outsourcers, and opened probes into nine elite universities. The move marks the broadest strike yet against skilled-worker immigration programmes, potentially blocking permanent residency for thousands of foreign tech workers.

US Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the suspension covers Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini. 'We will not accept any new or process any pending permanent labour certification applications involving these companies,' Sonderling said. Vice President JD Vance said nine universities, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, would be investigated for misuse of exchange-visitor visas to undercut American wages. 'Our message to Microsoft is: You're a great American company, but you've got to hire great American workers,' Vance said.

The freeze blocks the permanent labour certification process (PERM) required for most employment-based green cards, which normally requires employers to show that hiring a foreign worker will not harm US workers' wages or job opportunities. The freeze does not directly affect current H-1B visa holders, which allow temporary employment of foreign workers, but blocks a common route for those workers to obtain permanent residency. Indian IT firms such as Infosys, TCS, Wipro and HCL have long been among the biggest users of H-1B visas.

How it is being reported

• US freezes Microsoft, Adobe visas over alleged fraudThe Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a program to apply for green cards for workers who come to the US to live and work using H-1B visas.Perth Now · 8 Oct, 21:51
• US freezes Microsoft, Adobe visas over alleged fraudThe Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a program to apply for green cards for workers who come to the US to live and work using H-1B visas.The West Australian · 8 Oct, 21:51

In this story: Donald Trump · JD Vance · Keith Sonderling · Microsoft · Adobe · Infosys · Wipro · Harvard

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem