Brief
US Labor Department freezes PERM filings for eight tech firms
The freeze, announced by Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, stops new green‑card certifications and pauses pending cases.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The US Department of Labor announced on October 8 that it is suspending Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) filings for eight technology and IT services companies, including Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini. Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling made the announcement in Washington.
The department said it will accept no new PERM applications from the listed firms and will halt processing of existing cases while investigations continue. The suspension is indefinite.
Officials cited concerns over wage suppression and worker displacement. Vance accused Microsoft of benefiting heavily from PERM and H‑1B visas while laying off thousands of American workers, urging employers to prioritize hiring U.S. citizens.
PERM is the first step in the employer‑sponsored green‑card pathway, requiring proof that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the role. The freeze means new applications cannot be filed and pending cases face uncertain delays.
Indian IT firms felt the impact on their stock prices: Infosys and Wipro ADRs fell about 3 % in U.S. trading, though they later recovered. Nasscom, India’s IT industry body, described the suspension as temporary and limited to one immigration route, noting that many Indian firms have reduced reliance on H‑1B visas and expanded local hiring in the United States.
Key facts
- The US Department of Labor suspended PERM filings for eight tech firms on October 8, 2026. (gulfnews.com)
- The companies affected are Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini. (gulfnews.com)
- Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the freeze. (gulfnews.com)
- The suspension halts both new PERM applications and processing of pending cases indefinitely. (gulfnews.com)
- Nasscom called the action temporary and limited to the PERM pathway. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “US Green Card Freeze: Impact on Tech Workers and Indian IT Firms Explained”
