Technology · India Bureau
US Freezes Green Card Processing For Major Indian Tech Firms
The United States has suspended permanent residency applications from several leading Indian information technology companies as part of a broader investigation into H-1B visa programme violations. The freeze threatens the immigration prospects of thousands of Indian workers employed by these firms.
LSN India ·
The US Department of Labor has halted PERM (Permanent Employment-based) labour certification processing for multiple technology companies, including some of India's largest IT services exporters. The action stems from an ongoing federal probe into alleged misuse of the H-1B temporary skilled worker visa programme.
PERM certification is a critical step in the green card sponsorship process, allowing employers to certify that hiring foreign workers will not negatively impact domestic employment. The freeze effectively suspends indefinitely the pathway to permanent residency for Indian professionals whose employers have been flagged during the investigation.
Thousands of Indian IT workers employed by major outsourcing firms have been awaiting green card approvals, with many having waited several years through the backlogged immigration system. The suspension complicates their long-term plans to settle in the United States and creates uncertainty around their visa status and career trajectories.
US authorities have been scrutinizing whether certain technology companies improperly used H-1B visas to displace domestic workers or undercut local wages. The investigation has expanded beyond individual visa petitions to examine corporate hiring practices more broadly.
The development adds fresh pressure on India's tech industry, which has long relied on H-1B visas to deploy workers for US-based client projects and as a pathway for retaining global talent. Industry representatives have indicated they are cooperating with US authorities while seeking clarity on the freeze's duration and potential resolution.