US Freezes Green-Cards Applications For Tech Firms

The United States (US) under the Trump administration has frozen green-card applications for major technology companies, including Microsoft and Adobe, as part of a widening US visa crackdown on Thursday.

According to Reuters, the suspension also covers major IT firms, including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini. US Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling said the government would not accept new or process pending permanent labour certification applications involving the companies.

“We will not accept any new or process any pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies,” Sonderling said.

The administration said the move targets alleged visa fraud and concerns over American jobs. Vice President JD Vance also defended the action, saying companies must prioritise American workers.

“Our message to Microsoft is: You’re a great American company, but you’ve got to hire great American workers,” Vance said.

The affected process, known as PERM, is required for most employment-based green cards. Under the programme, employers must show that hiring foreign workers will not hurt the wages, working conditions or job opportunities of US workers.

The freeze does not directly affect current H-1B visa holders. However, it could disrupt their path to permanent residency. Indian IT companies such as Infosys, TCS, Wipro and HCL Technologies have long been major users of H-1B visas.

According to data Reuters cited, Microsoft is also among the largest filers of PERM applications. The latest action is part of a broader crackdown on skilled-worker immigration under President Donald Trump. The administration launched an enforcement drive known as “Project Firewall” last year. It has also introduced a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions for workers hired from abroad.

Furthermore, the administration has also opened investigations into nine major US universities over their use of J-1 exchange-visitor visas. The universities include Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Vance accused the institutions of using the visas to bring in international students while undercutting American wages. Labour Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said the agency had already issued subpoenas.

“We will investigate whether foreign influence, improper financial relationships, or visa abuse are compromising federally funded research,” D’Esposito said.

The probe adds to the administration’s ongoing dispute with Harvard over foreign students and national immigration rules. The latest actions mark a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s efforts to tighten skilled-worker and student visa programmes.