The Trump administration’s suspension of employment-based green card processing through the Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM) for eight major technology and IT services companies has raised concerns among Indian professionals working in the United States, even as immigration specialist Swatilina Barik cautioned against confusing the move with a suspension of H-1B visas.
In a LinkedIn post, Barik said the action does not cancel existing H-1B visas or affect green cards that have already been approved. Instead, it prevents the affected companies from filing new PERM applications and pauses pending applications while the suspension remains in effect.
The companies affected are Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCLTech and Capgemini.
READ: Microsoft faces PERM suspension over H-1B allegations (October 8, 2026)
PERM is a key step in the employer-sponsored green card process. It generally requires employers to demonstrate that there are not enough qualified, available U.S. workers for the position and that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed American workers.
For Indian professionals relying on employer sponsorship, the suspension could delay their plans to obtain permanent residency, although the consequences will depend on their current immigration status and stage of the green card process.
Barik said the development should be understood as a restriction on the employment-based permanent residency pathway rather than a cancellation of temporary work authorization.
The distinction is important for H-1B visa holders, who may continue to work in the United States as long as they maintain valid status and meet the applicable requirements. However, those relying on the affected employers to begin or advance their PERM-based green card applications could face uncertainty over their long-term plans. The administration has justified the crackdown as part of efforts to investigate alleged misuse of employment-based immigration programs and protect American workers. The specific allegations and their implications may vary by company, and a suspension does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing.
For Indian technology workers, the immediate concern is the potential disruption of employer-sponsored green card applications. The measure could also prompt affected professionals and employers to reassess immigration strategies as the administration increases scrutiny of employment-based visa programs.
READ: Cognizant hit with PERM suspension as US investigates H-1B, Green Card fraud (September 9, 2026)
Barik’s post also drew attention to alternative immigration pathways, including the EB-1A category for individuals with extraordinary ability and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW). These routes can allow eligible applicants to seek permanent residency without employer-sponsored PERM labor certification, although each has specific eligibility requirements and approval is not guaranteed.
The suspension adds another layer of uncertainty for skilled foreign workers who have spent years building careers in the United States while waiting for permanent residency. For those affected, understanding which stage of the process has been paused will be essential to assessing the potential impact on their individual cases.