US Suspends 8 IT Companies Including Wipro and Infosys From Green Card Program: The Trump administration has suspended eight major technology and outsourcing companies from the federal PERM labor certification program, the first step most employers use to sponsor foreign workers for an employment-based green card. The announcement came on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at a White House event led by Vice President JD Vance, with Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling naming the firms. The list covers Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe. According to reports from Reuters, Newsweek and TechCrunch, the Department of Labor will not accept new PERM applications from these companies and will not process the ones already pending. We’ll be updating this article monthly as official guidance, company statements and legal developments arrive.
For tens of thousands of H-1B workers, this is a very personal story. Many of them have waited years for an employer to start the green card process, and the suspension puts that step on hold at the companies named. Officials framed the move as a fraud and wage protection effort, pointing to active federal investigations. The companies had not publicly responded at the time of the first reports. Importantly, this is not a ban on H-1B visas, and reports so far say it does not automatically cancel existing certifications, approved petitions or green cards. Below you will find the full list, what each case stage may face, two free calculators, the official links and practical next steps.
Full List: Companies Suspended From the PERM Green Card Program
| Company | Sector | Notable context from reports |
|---|---|---|
| Infosys | IT services, India | Among the largest H-1B petition filers; USCIS data from a 2024 six-month window showed 8,140 approvals |
| Wipro | IT services, India | Same 2024 dataset showed 1,634 H-1B approvals |
| Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) | IT services, India | 5,274 approvals in the same dataset |
| HCL (HCLTech, HCL America) | IT services, India | HCL America recorded 2,953 approvals in that period |
| Cognizant | IT services, US headquarters | Ranked third among H-1B employers in an earlier analysis, with 6,321 visas |
| Capgemini SE | IT consulting, France | Named by Sonderling among the outsourcing firms |
| Microsoft | Software and cloud | Newsweek cited 6,258 H-1B approvals last fiscal year and 3,157 PERM filings |
| Adobe | Software | Suspended alongside Microsoft over reported federal investigations |
Reports differ slightly on Microsoft’s PERM filing count, with one outlet citing 3,682 applications and another citing 3,157 from Department of Labor figures. We use the Newsweek figure above and note the difference. The H-1B numbers for the Indian firms come from older government datasets, so treat them as context and not as current totals.
Suspension Dates and Key Highlights
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Date announced | Thursday, October 8, 2026 |
| Announced by | VP JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling |
| Program affected | PERM (Program Electronic Review Management), the DOL labor certification step |
| Number of companies | 8 |
| New PERM applications | Not accepted from the listed companies |
| Pending PERM applications | Not processed further, according to Sonderling |
| H-1B visas | Not banned; existing approvals not automatically cancelled |
| Stated reason | Alleged fraud and misuse; active federal investigations |
| Related probe | DOL Office of Inspector General review of H-1B and PERM fraud announced in July |
| Also announced | Review of nine universities over a student work program |
| Company responses | None public at the time of first reports |
What Is the PERM Suspension?
PERM, short for Program Electronic Review Management, is the labor certification process run by the US Department of Labor. Before an employer can file an immigrant petition for most employment-based green card categories, it generally has to prove that there are no qualified and willing US workers for the job at the offered wage. The Department of Labor certifies that test, and only then does the employer move to Form I-140 with USCIS and, later, the final green card step.
A suspension means the listed employers are shut out of that first stage for now. They cannot start new cases, and the pending ones will not advance. It is an administrative freeze tied to investigations, not a court finding. Several legal commentators have stressed that investigation and suspension should not be read as proof of wrongdoing by every company named.
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Does the Green Card Suspension Cancel My H-1B Visa or Existing Green Card?
Based on current reporting, no. Multiple outlets, including OpIndia, OneIndia and immigration analysts, say the action targets the employer’s ability to file or advance labor certifications. It does not revoke H-1B petitions already approved, and it does not automatically cancel PERM certifications already issued or green cards already granted. Your lawful status continues to depend on your own petition, your approval notice and your I-94 record.
That said, nobody should treat the situation as settled. The announcement is days old, and written guidance from the Department of Labor and USCIS has not been widely published. Questions about pending PERM cases, filed I-140 petitions and cases where a worker changes employers will probably produce clarifications in the coming weeks. Keep every receipt notice and approval, and ask your employer’s immigration counsel for case-specific guidance.
Why the US Suspended Infosys, Wipro, Microsoft and Others
The official explanation is fraud and abuse. Sonderling said multiple federal investigations are active, and Vance accused some companies of using the H-1B and green card routes to hire cheaper foreign labor while American workers are laid off. He singled out Microsoft, noting that it laid off thousands of workers in the past year while still receiving thousands of H-1B approvals and filing PERM cases.
The Labor Department’s Inspector General, Anthony D’Esposito, announced a probe into H-1B and PERM fraud in July, and his office has also said it suspended PERM filings for the software company Cloudera. Vance additionally said the administration would investigate nine universities, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, over a program that lets international students work in the US. Taken together, the actions show a broader policy push against employer-sponsored immigration pathways, which the administration describes as both legal and illegal migration crackdowns.
Background matters here. Associated Press reporting says nearly three-quarters of approved H-1B visas go to workers from India. Indian IT outsourcers have long been the largest petition filers, and critics in the US argue the program lets companies undercut wages. Supporters say it fills skills gaps. That argument is now playing out through enforcement instead of legislation.
Who Is Affected: Green Card Case Stage Table
| Your case stage | Likely effect based on current reports |
|---|---|
| Employer has not started sponsorship | New PERM filing is blocked for now; planning must change |
| PERM recruitment or wage determination stage | Cannot be filed while the suspension stands |
| PERM filed and pending at DOL | Not being processed, per the Labor Secretary |
| PERM certified, I-140 not yet filed | Certification reportedly not cancelled; ask counsel about timing |
| I-140 filed or approved | Not named in the announcement; confirm status with counsel |
| I-485 filed | Not named in the announcement; continue to track USCIS notices |
Indian nationals are expected to feel the greatest impact because they make up the largest share of H-1B holders and already face some of the longest green card queues. Workers from other countries at the same employers are equally affected at the PERM stage, and spouses and children on H-4 status depend on the principal worker’s progress.
Green Card Suspension Calculators: Check Your Case and Your H-1B Clock
These two tools run in your browser. Nothing is stored or sent. They provide planning information only and are not legal advice.
1. Is my green card case affected?
Is my green card case affected?
Answer a few questions to see whether a processing suspension may apply to your case.
Edit rules (advanced)
Rules are plain JSON so you can update them when policy changes. Format: country → list of affected pathways, or “all”.
This tool is informational only and is not legal advice. The country rules below are placeholders for demonstration; replace them with the current official list from USCIS (uscis.gov) or the State Department before relying on any result. Consult an immigration attorney for your case.
2. H-1B six-year clock calculator
H-1B six-year clock calculator
Estimate how much H-1B time you have used and when your six years end, including time spent outside the U.S.
Time spent outside the U.S.
Add each trip: the day you left and the day you returned. Departure and return days are not counted as days abroad.
Estimate only, not legal advice. USCIS decides how time is counted; recapture of time abroad needs documentation (passport stamps, I-94 history, tickets). Time in H-4 or other non-H/L statuses generally does not count. Confirm with an immigration attorney before relying on this.
Market and Industry Impact: H-1B Filings Were Already Falling
The suspension lands on an industry that was already pulling back. BusinessToday reported that six of the largest Indian IT firms, including TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, LTM and Tech Mahindra, filed only 1,763 H-1B registrations for fiscal 2027, compared with 21,919 a year earlier. That is a drop of roughly 92 percent. Registrations at large US employers such as Microsoft, Apple, JPMorgan and Walmart also fell by between 16 and 40 percent, according to the same report.
Separately, immigration trackers have noted H-1B extension delays for staff at Microsoft, Cognizant and Infosys in recent days. Sources disagree on whether those delays are connected to the PERM action, and the Times of India reportedly said they are unrelated. Until the agencies explain, it is best to treat them as separate issues. Stock market reaction and client commentary will be worth watching, because offshore delivery models depend on the ability to move people between countries and to retain talent with the promise of permanent residency.
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What Should You Do If Your Employer Is on the Suspended List?
Start with documents. Gather your passport, I-797 approval notices, I-94 record, recent pay stubs, job letters and any PERM or I-140 receipts. Having a clean file allows an attorney to advise you quickly, and it helps if you change jobs.
Next, ask your human resources or global mobility team for a written update. Large employers usually have outside counsel who will issue guidance to affected staff. Do not rely on rumors in social media groups, since details are changing by the day.
Then think about timelines. If you are close to your six-year H-1B limit, the calculator above shows the key dates. A worker who has not had PERM or I-140 filed at least a year before the limit may lose the ability to extend, and that is where the suspension could cause the most harm. Speak to an immigration attorney about alternatives such as a change of employer, a different visa category or a job outside the US. Pick a licensed attorney or an accredited representative, and be careful about anyone promising a guaranteed green card.
How to Apply for a Green Card Through PERM?
The employer sponsored route normally follows five stages. Understanding them helps you see where a suspension bites.
Step 1: Prevailing wage determination
The employer asks the Department of Labor to set the minimum wage for the job. This step can take months and is filed through the DOL’s FLAG system.
Step 2: Recruitment
The employer runs required recruitment, including job order and advertisements, to test the US labor market. Results must be documented.
Step 3: File the PERM application (Form ETA-9089)
This is the stage now blocked for the eight named companies. If the Department of Labor certifies the application, it becomes valid for 180 days.
Step 4: File Form I-140 with USCIS
The employer petitions USCIS for the immigrant worker classification, usually EB-2 or EB-3. Premium processing is optional.
Step 5: Adjustment of status or consular processing
When a visa number is available under the Visa Bulletin, you file Form I-485 inside the US or go through a consulate abroad.
Processing Time: How Long Does the Green Card Process Take?
The PERM stage alone can take more than a year when you add wage determination, recruitment and adjudication, and the Department of Labor publishes current averages on its FLAG site. USCIS posts I-140 and I-485 timelines on its processing times page. The longest wait is often not paperwork but the visa queue. Indian-born applicants in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories face backlogs measured in many years because of per-country limits, and the monthly Visa Bulletin shows where each priority date stands.
For the suspended companies, the added delay is open ended. Nobody can responsibly give a restart date until the Department of Labor publishes a lifting condition or the investigations conclude. Use the official processing time pages for the most current numbers and avoid third party estimates that may be outdated.
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Green Card Fees and Payment Schedule: Who Pays and When
PERM itself has no Department of Labor filing fee, but the employer pays for advertising, recruitment and legal work. Federal rules do not allow the employer to shift labor certification costs to the worker, so be wary of any request to reimburse them. USCIS fees apply at later stages. As of the fee schedule published in 2024, the I-140 filing fee was $715 and the I-485 fee was $1,440, with additional surcharges for the asylum program on employer petitions. Fees are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current amounts on USCIS Form G-1055 before you pay anything.
| Stage | Who normally pays | When it is due |
|---|---|---|
| Prevailing wage and PERM costs | Employer | During recruitment and filing |
| Form I-140 fee | Employer | At filing with USCIS |
| Form I-485 fee | Worker and family members | At adjustment filing |
| Work permit and travel document fees | Worker, unless the employer agrees | With or after the I-485 |
Official Links: DOL, USCIS and Status Check Pages
| Resource | Official link |
|---|---|
| DOL Foreign Labor Certification (PERM information) | dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor |
| FLAG system (employer login, PERM filing and status) | flag.dol.gov |
| USCIS home page | uscis.gov |
| USCIS online account (login and registration) | my.uscis.gov |
| Case status check (receipt number) | egov.uscis.gov/casestatus |
| USCIS processing times | uscis.gov/processing-times |
| Fee schedule (Form G-1055) | uscis.gov/g-1055 |
| Form I-140 information | uscis.gov/i-140 |
| Form I-485 information | uscis.gov/i-485 |
| Monthly Visa Bulletin | travel.state.gov visa bulletin |
| DOL Office of Inspector General | oig.dol.gov |
Green Card Program Suspension FAQs
Which companies are suspended from the green card program?
Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
Why were Infosys and Wipro suspended from the PERM program?
The administration cites alleged fraud and misuse of the H-1B and PERM systems and says federal investigations are active. The companies had not publicly responded in early reports, and the allegations are not court findings.
Is the H-1B visa banned for these companies?
No. The suspension covers PERM labor certification, not H-1B petitions.
Will my existing green card application be cancelled?
Reports say existing certifications, approvals and green cards are not automatically cancelled. Pending PERM applications, however, are not being processed.
Can I change jobs to keep my green card process alive?
Possibly, but rules vary by stage, and a new employer generally has to start PERM again unless an I-140 has been approved and other conditions are met. Get legal advice first.
When will the suspension end?
No end date has been published. Watch the Department of Labor and White House announcements.
Where can I check my status?
Use the USCIS case status page for I-140 and I-485 receipts, and ask your employer to check FLAG for PERM.
What is PERM labor certification?
It is the Department of Labor process that confirms there are no qualified and willing US workers for a job, and it is the first major step in many employer sponsored green card cases.
Does this affect Indian IT workers in the US?
Indian nationals hold the majority of H-1B visas and work heavily at the named outsourcing firms, so many are likely affected at the green card sponsorship stage.
Can Microsoft employees still get a green card?
Not through new PERM filings by Microsoft while the suspension stands. Other routes, such as self petition categories for eligible people, are separate and have their own requirements.
Is the green card suspension permanent?
It has been described as a suspension tied to ongoing investigations, not a permanent ban.
How many green cards did these companies sponsor?
Exact totals vary by source. For Microsoft, Newsweek cited roughly 3,157 PERM filings from Department of Labor numbers.
What should H-1B workers near the six-year limit do?
Calculate your deadlines, collect your documents and speak with an immigration attorney quickly about alternatives.
Conclusion: What the Green Card Program Suspension Means
The October 8 announcement is one of the most significant employer immigration actions in recent years. Eight well known companies are now shut out of the PERM stage while federal investigations continue, and thousands of skilled workers must rethink their timelines. The facts that are clear today are limited but important. This is a suspension and not an H-1B ban, existing approvals and green cards are reportedly untouched, and pending PERM cases at the listed companies are frozen. Everything else, including how long it lasts and how I-140 and I-485 cases are treated, still needs official clarification.
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