{
  "id": 13105410,
  "title": "Green Card Freeze: Is US Immigration Uncertainty Forcing Indian IT Firms To Pivot?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/green-card-freeze-is-us-immigration-uncertainty-forcing-indian-it",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-09T11:13:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/tech/green-card-freeze-is-us-immigration-uncertainty-forcing-indian-it-firms-to-pivot"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent freeze on the issuance of employment-based green cards to IT professionals working in the United States has created uncertainty for companies and workers in India's thriving technology sector. The US Department of Labor recently halted PERM, an immigration program which allows firms to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency - effectively freezing the pathway for roughly 100,000 IT workers and their families.\n\nThe freeze has thrown a wrench into talent deployment plans for Indian IT firms that regularly recruit skilled professionals in the US. Concerned companies may be forced to reevaluate their workforce structures, particularly if delays in obtaining green cards impede their ability to meet staffing needs. Abhijeet Kate, a principal consultant at digiCloud Solutions, stated the policy change could prompt Indian tech firms to rely more heavily on India-based delivery centers and distributed teams while still keeping a presence in the US.\n\nFor Indian professionals caught in the crosshairs of the policy shift, the uncertainty could complicate long-term career plans. Many rely on green cards obtained through employer sponsorship to secure positions in the US. However, experts emphasize the opportunity to focus on developing skills through US summer internship programs. Lalit Sharma, CEO of Ethane Web Technologies, sees the larger issue being how dependent businesses are on the ability to move talent freely across borders.\n\nRather than simply offshore work, companies may need to rethink their models to balance local US presence with delivery from India. Sharma suggests that India has the chance to advance its own value chain by retaining skilled workers and building global capability centers. However, to realize this potential, India must improve job creation, salaries and career development opportunities for professionals. Overall, the green card freeze underscores the need for businesses and immigration authorities to stay vigilant about policy changes and adjust strategies to mitigate the impact on talent flows.",
  "summary": "The US Department of Labor’s suspension of major IT services and tech firms from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme has sent shockwaves through India’s tech corridor. With the primary route to employment-based green cards frozen for an estimated 100,000-plus professionals and their families, Indian IT companies and IT professionals face critical decisions regarding talent…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "'Deeply Offensive': MEA Rebukes JD Vance's 'Indentured Servants' Remark As US Bans Indian Tech Firms From Green Card Programme",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/deeply-offensive-mea-rebukes-jd-vances-indentured-servants-remark-as",
        "published": "2026-10-09T08:19:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}