US suspends PERM visa pathway for eight tech firms, impacting Indian skilled workers' green card prospects

The US announced the suspension of hiring skilled international workers on a permanent basis through the Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM) for eight technology firms, including Microsoft, Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and HCL Technologies. This freezes new and pending PERM applications, significantly affecting Indian tech workers who heavily rely on PERM to transition from temporary H-1B visas to permanent residency and citizenship. Nasscom, the trade association of India's $300bn technology industry, states that Indian companies are reducing H-1B dependence and hiring more locally, with Wipro reporting over 80% of its US workforce is locally hired, and TCS reporting single-digit PERM applications in the last two years. However, a US-based senior executive stated the human impact is intense, as many individuals are stuck in the US with stalled green card applications, despite family ties to India.