Washington: US green card restrictions have created fresh uncertainty for Indian technology professionals seeking permanent residency through temporary work visas and employment-based immigration pathways.
The US has suspended new and pending applications under the Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM) for eight technology companies. The affected firms include Microsoft, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro and HCL Technologies. The move restricts a widely used route for skilled foreign workers seeking permanent residency.
Many Indian professionals enter the US on H-1B visas before pursuing green cards through PERM. Indians account for the majority of H-1B visa holders, making the suspension significant for workers planning long-term careers in the country.
However, the immediate impact on technology businesses may remain limited as companies reduce their reliance on overseas recruitment. Nasscom, which represents India’s $300 billion (£226 billion) technology industry, has highlighted increased local hiring and relatively few transitions from H-1B visas to permanent residency through PERM.
The policy shift comes as growing debate over skilled immigration and hostility towards Indian professionals. Stop AAPI Hate, a US non-profit organisation addressing discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, reported a sharp rise in anti-South Asian online sentiment since the 2024 US election.
JD Vance, US Vice President also faced criticism for describing foreign H-1B professionals in terms associated with indentured labour. India’s Ministry of External Affairs called the remark offensive and inappropriate because of its colonial connotations.
Alternative immigration routes remain available. Applicants with exceptional achievements or work considered important to US national interests may qualify for green cards without PERM certification. Investors can also seek permanent residency by investing at least $800,000 in eligible US enterprises.
The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), nearly one million Indian nationals awaited employment-based green cards as of December 2025, accounting for 79 percent of all pending applications. NFAP projected waiting periods of between five and 179 years for highly skilled Indian applicants filing labour certification or employment-based immigration petitions from January 2026, depending on the visa category.
The PERM suspension could face legal challenges in federal courts. The Trump administration also imposed a $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B petitions, but federal courts later struck down the measure. A proposed $70,000 fee for universities recommending international students for a post-study work programme has added to concerns.
Meanwhile, technology companies are reshaping recruitment through cost-cutting, layoffs and greater adoption of artificial intelligence. Increased offshoring to India could shift jobs overseas rather than boost employment for American workers. Although demand for Indian technology talent is expected to continue, pathways to permanent residency in the US are becoming less predictable.
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