Indian IT Firms Suspended From US Programme Sponsoring Workers For Green Card

The administration of the United States has placed a suspension on Microsoft, Adobe, and numerous other prominent technology firms from participating in a program designed to assist foreign skilled workers in obtaining permanent residency within the country. This move comes after accusations of fraud leveled against the aforementioned companies.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance denounced the firms, stating, "You're a great American company, but you've got to hire great American workers." The list of suspended entities also includes Capgemini, Cognizant, HCL, Infosys, Tata, and Wipro.

The Secretary of Labor, Keith Sonderling, announced that the government will not accept any new or pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies. H-1B visas, which cater to highly skilled positions that employers find challenging to fill with qualified U.S. workers, are predominantly utilized by tech companies. According to the Associated Press, nearly three-quarters of approved visas are granted to workers from India.

Vance emphasized the administration's commitment to valuing the American workforce, stating, "We believe in the strength and talent of the American workforce." In response, Microsoft issued a statement, asserting that the majority of its employees in the U.S. are American citizens. The company clarified that, out of approximately 6,000 H-1B visa applications submitted in the past fiscal year, 80% were for the extension or reclassification of existing Microsoft employees' status, rather than hiring new personnel.

The remaining applications, accounting for only 1% of the company's U.S. workforce, were for individuals already legally residing in the United States who chose to work for Microsoft, and these were not new arrivals to the country.