The US PERM suspension announced October 8, 2026, affects eight technology companies, including Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys and TCS. The Department of Labor has stopped accepting new and processing pending labor certification applications involving these employers, leaving affected foreign workers facing delays.
The United States has suspended eight major technology and IT services companies from the Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM), restricting their ability to sponsor foreign employees for employment-based green cards through the affected process.
Announced on Thursday, October 8, 2026, by the Trump administration, the decision affects two major software companies and six IT services firms, many employing Indian professionals in the United States.
Which eight companies face the US PERM suspension?
The Department of Labor identified the following companies:
|
Company |
Business sector |
|---|---|
|
Microsoft |
Software and cloud technology |
|
Adobe |
Software and digital services |
|
Infosys |
IT consulting and services |
|
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) |
IT consulting and services |
|
Cognizant |
IT consulting and outsourcing |
|
Wipro |
IT services and consulting |
|
HCL Technologies (HCLTech) |
IT services and engineering |
|
Capgemini |
Technology consulting and services |
All eight are subject to the announced PERM restrictions. The government has not publicly established that every company committed an immigration violation.
What PERM applications are suspended?
Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the Department of Labor would stop accepting new PERM applications and processing pending applications involving the named employers.
PERM certification is generally required before employers can sponsor foreign workers through many EB-2 and EB-3 green card pathways.
The restrictions therefore affect labor certification processing rather than every stage of the US immigration system.
Why were Microsoft and Indian IT companies targeted?
Vice President JD Vance accused Microsoft of using foreign-worker immigration programs while laying off American employees.
The administration linked the broader action to investigations into alleged immigration abuses and efforts to protect US employment opportunities.
Microsoft defended its hiring practices, while the reported allegations against the companies should not be treated as proven violations.
Does the suspension affect every employee?
No. The decision does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas, approved immigrant petitions or green cards.
Employees whose employers have pending PERM applications may experience processing delays. The impact depends on their application stage and immigration circumstances.
The administration has not announced a definite date for resuming PERM processing for the eight companies. Further Department of Labor guidance will be needed to determine how affected applications can proceed.
