The Department of Labor froze employment-based Green Card applications for eight tech giants—Microsoft, Adobe, HCL, Cognizant, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Capgemini—on the grounds of potential fraud. This move hits the core of how IT firms retain top foreign talent. It creates immediate uncertainty for thousands of employees who rely on these filings to extend their stay beyond the standard H-1B limit.
Legal consultant Bhumireddy Sai Srinivas Reddy explained that pending PERM cases are currently in limbo. "Your place in line is preserved as long as the case survives," he said. "But the final outcome depends on how the investigation resolves." If the Department of Labor finds fraud, these cases could be denied. If not, they may resume. Until then, applicants cannot move forward.
The bigger threat lies in the loss of the Green Card pathway. H-1B visas are typically granted for three years, renewable for another three. Without an approved PERM or I-140 petition, workers hit a six-year cap. This forces many to leave the US or switch to a different employer. Immigration attorney Rahul Reddy noted that while approved I-140s are unlikely to be cancelled, new H-1B filings from these companies will face heightened scrutiny.
Employees should not panic, but they need to act strategically. Changing companies can be a prudent move for those whose visa extensions are stuck. Reddy advised against making major career decisions based solely on headlines. Workers should assess their current stage—H-1B, PERM, I-140, or I-485—and consult with an immigration attorney. The next step depends on the Department of Labor's investigation timeline, which remains unclear.