The Donald Trump-led US administration has suspended Microsoft and other firms from the United States’ green card programme, in a move which might affect H-1B workers employed at these firms too.
Apart from Microsoft, other companies facing suspension include Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini. The move is part of US President Donald Trump’s efforts during his second term in office to restrict the number of foreign-born people gaining US citizenship and permanent residency. His administration has argued that the presence of foreign workers affects employment opportunities for Americans. it directly halts the PERM filings of the firms suspended from the Green Card programme, thus impacting those working at these firms While the suspension will not have a blanket effect on all H-1B visa holders. The Permanent Labor Certification Program is the mandatory first step for employment-based green card sponsorship. US President JD Vance, while making the announcement of suspension, specifically mentioned Microsoft.
Vance said that while Microsoft last year laid off 6,000 American workers, it had obtained 6,300 H-1B visas and almost 3,000 green cards. The company had filed about 1,680 petitions for permanent status through the third quarter of the 2026 federal fiscal year which ended September 30.
The company comes fifth among US employers when it comes to using H-1B visas, according to data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services. ‘Hire great American workers’: Why US suspended eight firms from green card programme Microsoft is the largest filer of PERM applications, or the permanent labor certification process, according to data from the US labor department. He added that the suspensions would last “as long as it needs to”, adding that the Trump administration wanted to companies to change how they hire employees. In a message to Microsoft, the US Vice-President said, “You’re a great American company, but you’ve got to hire great American workers.”
