The U.S. government has suspended permanent labor-certification processing for Microsoft, Adobe and several large IT-services companies, raising a new barrier for employers seeking employment-based green cards for foreign workers.
Reuters reported Thursday that the affected companies include Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, Cognizant, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini. Federal officials framed the action as part of a broader effort to investigate alleged misuse of employment-based immigration programs.
The action centers on the Permanent Labor Certification program, commonly known as PERM. The Department of Labor describes PERM as a process in which employers seeking to sponsor a foreign worker for permanent employment must establish, among other requirements, that there are not sufficient qualified U.S. workers available for the job and that hiring the foreign worker will not adversely affect wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
A suspension does not by itself establish wrongdoing by any employer. It does, however, interrupt an important step in the employment-based green-card process for affected companies and employees while the government’s action remains in force.
For hiring teams, the immediate impact is concentrated in roles where employers rely on permanent-residency sponsorship to retain specialized workers over the long term. Technology, engineering and other professional occupations account for a large share of PERM activity, making any sustained restriction consequential for workforce planning at companies that depend heavily on global talent.
The development also increases the gap between short-term work authorization and long-term retention. Companies may still employ workers through other lawful immigration pathways where eligible, but a blocked PERM route can complicate plans to convert temporary employment into permanent residency.
