The US PERM suspension announced October 8, 2026, has disrupted green card sponsorship processing at eight technology companies. Indian H-1B workers should verify their application stage, immigration deadlines and I-140 status while seeking guidance from employers and immigration attorneys.
Indian professionals employed by eight technology companies affected by the US PERM suspension should review their immigration records and upcoming deadlines as uncertainty continues over employment-based green card processing.
On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Trump administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini from the Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM).
The restrictions halt new applications and processing of pending labor certification cases involving these employers.
Check your PERM application status
Affected employees should first establish whether their employer has started recruitment, submitted Form ETA-9089 or received labor certification.
Workers with filed applications can request their case number and submission details from their employer or immigration attorney.
The Department of Labor's FLAG portal provides a PERM case-status search for checking applications.
Review H-1B expiration and extension deadlines
The suspension does not automatically cancel an employee's existing H-1B status.
However, workers approaching the normal six-year H-1B limit should check whether they qualify for extensions based on their labor certification or approved immigrant petition.
Eligibility depends on individual filing history, immigration status and applicable USCIS requirements.
Confirm your I-140 approval and priority date
Employees should determine whether Form I-140 has already been approved and confirm the petition's approval date.
An approved I-140 may offer important immigration benefits, including priority date retention and potential eligibility for certain H-1B extensions.
These protections depend on applicable rules and do not guarantee permanent residency.
Discuss sponsorship options with your employer
Workers should ask their employer's immigration team how the suspension affects pending filings and whether any lawful alternative sponsorship options exist.
Changing employers may be possible under H-1B portability rules, but a new employer ordinarily must initiate separate PERM sponsorship when labor certification is required.
Employees should obtain individual immigration advice before resigning or making decisions affecting their status.
Monitor official updates before taking action
The Department of Labor has not announced a confirmed date for lifting the company-specific restrictions.
Affected workers should follow official DOL and USCIS announcements, retain copies of immigration documents and seek timely legal guidance if deadlines are approaching.
The immediate priority is to establish which applications are affected and protect eligibility for existing or future immigration benefits while federal guidance develops.
