US Halts Green Card Processing for Major IT Outsourcing Firms

The suspension targets Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini, alongside tech firms Microsoft and Adobe. Officials will no longer process any new or pending applications for these companies, which have collectively secured over 100,000 permanent labour certifications since 2009. The administration alleges that these corporations have exploited the system by hiring foreign staff for roles that could be filled by local talent.

Vice President JD Vance specifically singled out Microsoft, noting the company filed thousands of applications for positions similar to those held by employees it recently laid off. He characterized the current recruitment process as a ruse, claiming firms bypass domestic hiring requirements by placing obscure advertisements in small-town newspapers to justify foreign labor requests. The administration views these practices as a direct threat to domestic wages and the security of American jobs.

Industry body NASSCOM countered the move, emphasizing that Indian technology firms have been steadily increasing their US-based hiring. They argued that skilled talent mobility remains essential for American innovation and that the industry has already reduced its reliance on H-1B visas. The decision marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to restrict immigration pathways and impose higher costs on companies utilizing temporary work visas.