US suspends Microsoft, major IT firms from key green card program

The U.S. government has suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and several prominent IT companies from a program that facilitates skilled foreign workers obtaining permanent residency, according to senior U.S. officials. The suspension is due to allegations of fraud and part of a broader effort to encourage companies to hire more American workers.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that while Microsoft is a "great American company," it must prioritize hiring American workers. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling added that other major IT firms, such as Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini, are also being suspended from the program. The U.S. will not accept new or process any pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies.

Under the PERM process, employers must first obtain certification from the Department of Labor, demonstrating that there is no qualified, willing, or available U.S. worker for a specific job, before filing petitions for most employment-based green cards. Microsoft has not yet commented on the matter.