World · India Bureau
US suspends major Indian IT firms from Green Card sponsorship programme
The United States has suspended several leading Indian information technology companies, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and HCL, from sponsoring employees for permanent residency visas. The action impacts one of the largest sources of H-1B visa holders seeking to transition to Green Card status.
LSN India ·
Major Indian IT service providers have been barred from participating in the US Green Card sponsorship programme, marking a significant development in immigration policy affecting the technology sector. The suspension encompasses Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, and HCL Technologies, among other firms that have historically been prominent sponsors of employment-based green card applications.
The suspension restricts these companies from filing new green card petitions for their employees, a critical pathway for retaining skilled foreign workers in the United States. Indian IT firms have long relied on this mechanism to transition H-1B visa holders to permanent resident status, with thousands of employees from these companies in the green card application pipeline.
The move reflects ongoing scrutiny of visa sponsorship practices and labour market dynamics in the technology sector. Indian IT companies collectively employ tens of thousands of professionals in the United States and have been integral to the global outsourcing industry.
Industry observers note the suspension could prompt these firms to reassess their US workforce strategies and potentially accelerate hiring of local talent. The impact on pending applications and future recruitment plans remains to be clarified by US immigration authorities.
The decision underscores broader policy debates surrounding skilled immigration, labour protections, and the role of foreign workers in the American technology industry.