US Suspends 8 IT Companies From Green Card Program: Full List and What It Means
Quick answer: On 8 October 2026, the US Labor Department suspended eight companies from PERM, the program employers use to start a green card for foreign workers. The companies are Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe. They cannot file new PERM applications, and pending ones will not be processed. H-1B visas are not cancelled, and existing green cards are not affected.
Which companies were suspended?
US Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the suspensions at a White House press conference with Vice President JD Vance.
Company Type Reason given
Infosys Indian IT services Alleged misuse of foreign-worker programs
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Indian IT services Same as above
Wipro Indian IT services Same as above
HCL Technologies Indian IT services Same as above
Cognizant US-based IT services (large India workforce) Same as above; already suspended in September 2026
Capgemini French IT services Same as above
Microsoft US tech giant "Multiple active federal investigations"
Adobe US software maker "Multiple active federal investigations"
In Sonderling's words: "I am hereby suspending from the Permanent Labor Certification Program some of the largest IT outsourcing firms in the world — Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini — and also, due to multiple active federal investigations, [the Labor Department] is suspending Microsoft and Adobe from the program."
What is PERM, and how is it different from H-1B?
This is the part most people get confused about.
H-1B is a temporary work visa. It lets a skilled foreign worker live and work in the US, usually for up to six years.
PERM (Permanent Labor Certification) is the first step towards an employer-sponsored green card. The company must prove it advertised the job and could not find a qualified American worker at the prevailing wage.
The date the Labor Department accepts a PERM application becomes the worker's priority date, their place in the green card queue. For Indians, that queue is already many years long.
So this suspension does not stop anyone working on an H-1B today. It blocks the path from H-1B to permanent residency at these eight companies.
Why did the US suspend these companies?
The Trump administration says the companies used foreign workers to replace Americans at lower cost.
Sonderling said that since 2009 the affected companies received over 230,000 H-1B approvals and over 100,000 permanent labor certifications, calling them "hundreds of thousands of jobs that were taken from American workers."
Vance singled out Microsoft. A probe by the anti-fraud task force he chairs found Microsoft laid off about 6,000 American workers last year while employing around 6,300 people on H-1B visas (as reported by CNN). Vance said: "There has been no company in the United States, unfortunately, that has abused the system more than Microsoft."
Officials allege the companies made false claims in their PERM filings, describing roles as needing rare skills when Americans could have filled them.
The same day, the administration also announced investigations into nine US universities, including Harvard, Stanford and MIT, over the J-1 exchange visa program.
How long will the suspension last?
No end date has been given. Vance said it will last "as long as it needs to," and did not explain what the companies must do to get back in, beyond saying they must "change their behavior."
How have the companies responded?
Microsoft disputed the claims. It said about 80% of the roughly 6,000 H-1B applications it filed last fiscal year were to extend or change the status of existing employees, not to hire new people, and that it pays H-1B staff the same as others doing comparable work.
TCS declined to comment to Reuters. Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, HCL, Wipro and Capgemini had not responded at the time of reporting.
Nasscom, India's IT industry body, said immigration and skilled talent mobility "are two distinct issues that should not be viewed through the same lens," and that the number of employees moving from H-1B to permanent residency through PERM is "relatively limited."
In US trading on 8 October, Infosys ADRs were down less than 1% and Wipro had slid 1.8% at the time of Bloomberg Law's report.
What does this mean for Indian IT employees?
If you already have a green card: Nothing changes. Existing green cards are not revoked.
If you are on an H-1B at one of these companies: You can keep working. Your H-1B is still valid.
If your green card process has not reached PERM yet: This is the group most affected. Your employer cannot file PERM while the suspension lasts, so you cannot get a priority date. With the India EB-2 category listed as "unavailable" and EB-3 stuck at 1 January 2014 in the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, every month of delay matters.
If you are close to your 6-year H-1B limit: Be careful. H-1B holders can usually extend beyond six years only if a labor certification was filed early enough. If your PERM was not filed in time, speak to an immigration lawyer now.
If your PERM is pending: The Labor Department said it will not process pending applications from these companies, so expect your case to stay on hold.
If you are job hunting: Companies not on this list can still sponsor green cards. If permanent residency is your goal, ask about green card sponsorship before accepting an offer.
This post explains news reports and is not legal advice. For your own case, talk to a licensed US immigration attorney.
What happens next?
Watch for three things: an official Labor Department notice with details, any legal challenge from the companies, and whether more firms are added. Cognizant was suspended alone in September and the list grew to eight a month later, so further action is possible.
FAQ
Is the H-1B visa program suspended?
No. Only PERM, the green card labor certification step, is suspended for these eight companies. The H-1B program continues.
Which Indian IT companies are suspended from PERM?
Infosys, TCS, Wipro and HCL Technologies. Cognizant, which has a large workforce in India, is also on the list.
Will I lose my job or visa because of this?
Not because of this order. It does not cancel H-1B visas or existing green cards. It stops new and pending PERM filings at the named companies.
Can I switch to another company to continue my green card?
Generally, PERM is tied to the employer, so a new employer that is not suspended would need to file a fresh PERM for you. Get advice from an immigration lawyer before switching, because it can affect your priority date.
When will the suspension end?
No date has been announced. Vice President Vance said it will last "as long as it needs to."
Sources
Reuters: Trump administration freezes green cards for Microsoft, IT firms, probes universities (8 Oct 2026)
Axios: H-1B visas aren't suspended. Here's what Vance is really targeting
The Indian Express: Why US has suspended Indian IT firms Cognizant, TCS, Wipro, HCL from Green Card filings
The Economic Times: Nasscom statement on PERM suspension
Bloomberg Law: US Bars Microsoft, Indian Firms From Visa Program
US Department of Labor: Permanent Labor Certification program
