US Halts Green-Card Filings at Microsoft, Adobe and IT Firms Amid Fraud Probe
Microsoft, Adobe and six major IT outsourcing companies can no longer file some employment-based green-card applications while the Trump administration inves...
Microsoft, Adobe and six major IT outsourcing companies can no longer file some employment-based green-card applications while the Trump administration investigates alleged fraud and changes hiring rules. The freeze, announced in Washington on Thursday, Oct. 8, could affect thousands of foreign technology workers seeking permanent residency, though current H-1B visa holders are not directly covered.
Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the restrictions apply to filings under the permanent labor certification process, known as PERM. The affected outsourcers are Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini. The suspension will remain in place until hiring rules change, according to the reports.
A wider immigration crackdown
PERM is required for most employment-based green cards. Employers must show that hiring a foreign worker will not harm US workers’ wages or job prospects. A freeze on filings therefore blocks a route to permanent residency, rather than automatically cancelling existing visas.
The action came alongside investigations into nine universities over possible visa abuse. Harvard, Yale and Stanford are among those named. The probes put leading research institutions on notice and have raised concerns about potential effects on research and the broader US economy.
The administration says the measures target fraud and protect American jobs. They form part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reduce immigration and limit pathways to US residence and citizenship.
Vance points to layoffs and visa numbers
Vice-President JD Vance singled out Microsoft, saying the company had laid off 6,000 American workers in 2025 while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B temporary-worker visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. He called Microsoft the worst abuser of the system among US companies.
The announcement came hours before Trump was due to present Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Microsoft is the largest filer of PERM applications, according to the reports.
The freeze reaches beyond one company, placing major technology employers and universities under heightened scrutiny. The next step for affected firms will depend on the administration’s promised changes to hiring rules.
Source: reuters.com
