The United States suspends PERM applications for Microsoft, Adobe, and other companies

Updated 2026-10-11 · told from many outlets at once

The U.S. government suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and seven major IT firms from the Permanent Labor Certification Program, stopping new applications and pending filings. The suspensions include Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini. The move follows claims that companies replaced American workers with foreign ones and abused the H-1B program.

• The U.S. government suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and seven other major IT firms from the Permanent Labor Certification Program, halting new applications and pending filings.
• Vice President JD Vance said Microsoft laid off 6,000 American workers last year and filed 6,800 H-1B visa applications, claiming it replaced U.S. workers with foreign ones.
• Vice President JD Vance accused companies of fraud in the H-1B visa program, alleging abuse of the skilled worker immigration process.
• Microsoft said 80 percent of its H-1B applications were for status changes, not new hires.
• The U.S. government accused Microsoft of abusing the skilled worker immigration process, saying it replaced American workers with lower-paid foreign employees.
• Microsoft is the fifth largest employer using H-1B visas in the U.S.
• The Department of Labor said these companies have requested nearly 3 million foreign workers since 2009.
• The suspensions include Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Capgemini SE.
• The Department of Labor suspended Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL from the PERM program.
• The U.S. government will not process new or pending PERM applications from Microsoft or seven other companies.
• The Department of Labor will not process new applications for certain companies under the PERM programme.
• The H-1B program is criticized for harming American workers.
• The National Security Department proposed a fee for international students.
• The government is also taking action against consulting firms and Adobe.
• Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced suspensions from the PERM initiative.
• TCS plans to hire 15,000 additional employees in the U.S. over five years.
• The U.S. opened investigations into nine top universities over alleged J-1 visa fraud.
• Vice President JD Vance criticized nine universities for using J-1 visas to undercut graduate student wages.
• PERM is a process that allows employers to sponsor foreign workers for green cards, requiring proof of insufficient U.S. workers for a job.
• The suspension does not cancel existing H-1B visas.
• The suspension targets the Permanent Labor Certification or PERM mechanism.
• Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the suspension of several major Indian tech companies from the PERM programme.
• Nasscom said immigration and skilled talent mobility are distinct issues.
• Indian technology firms have decreased their reliance on H-1B visas over time.
• Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito said subpoenas had been served.

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