Federal Crackdown Halts Green Card Sponsorship for Tech Giants
The U.S. government has barred Microsoft, Adobe, and several other major technology firms from a federal program essential for securing permanent residency for foreign workers. The suspension of the PERM process effectively freezes the green card pathway for employees sponsored by these companies.
Officials cited allegations of fraud and an explicit mandate to force firms to prioritize domestic hiring. Under the PERM process, employers must prove that no qualified American workers are available for the roles they seek to fill with foreign nationals.
The Companies Under Suspension
The firms suspended from the program include:
- Microsoft
- Adobe
- Cognizant
- Infosys
- Close
- Wipro
- HCL
- You are a twin.
This move arrives alongside ongoing scrutiny of the H-1B visa program, which grants temporary work authorization to highly skilled professionals. Vice President JD Vance signaled a hardening stance on corporate recruitment, stating, “Our message to Microsoft is: You are a great American company, but you must hire great American workers.”
Uncertainty for Foreign Professionals
For foreign staff currently employed by the suspended firms, the administration’s action creates an immediate roadblock. By halting certification, federal authorities have effectively severed the primary route for these professionals to transition from temporary H-1B status to permanent residency.
The affected companies have remained silent as the administration frames the move as a necessary measure to protect the domestic labor market. As of the latest reports, Microsoft has not issued official comments regarding its suspension from the certification process.
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