After TCS, What Did Infosys Say on US Green Card Suspension?

Infosys has said the US government’s suspension of new and pending applications under the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme is unlikely to have a material impact on its operations.

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According to The Times of India, the Bengaluru-headquartered IT services company said it was aware of the decision and welcomed the opportunity to work with the US Department of Labor and other government agencies to address any questions they may have.

Infosys said its local workforce and technology and innovation hubs in the US would help it maintain business operations. The company also reiterated its commitment to employees, clients and communities in the country, as well as compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

US Suspends Eight Technology Companies from PERM Programme

The US government has suspended eight technology companies from the PERM programme: Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.

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Read More: US Suspends TCS, Infosys, Wipro and 5 Other IT Firms from Green Card Process

The action affects the processing of new and pending PERM applications involving the companies. US officials have linked the move to concerns about the use of foreign-worker programmes and their potential impact on American workers.

PERM certification is a key step in the employment-based green card process for many foreign workers. The suspension could delay permanent residency applications sponsored by the affected employers while the restrictions remain in place.

However, the PERM process is separate from the H-1B visa programme. The suspension does not, by itself, cancel existing H-1B visas or prohibit the affected companies from hiring employees in the US.

TCS Also Expects No Material Impact

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Infosys’ response follows a similar statement from TCS, which said the suspension was not expected to affect its workforce strategy or customer engagements.

TCS cited its limited recent PERM application activity and its focus on hiring local talent in the US. The company has also announced plans to hire an additional 15,000 employees in the country over five years.

The responses from both companies indicate that they do not expect a material impact on their immediate business operations.

However, the restrictions could create uncertainty for employees whose permanent residency applications are pending or who were planning to begin the employer-sponsored green card process.

What It Means for Indian IT Professionals

The suspension may delay the green card process for employees sponsored by the affected companies. The impact on individual workers will depend on the status of their applications and how long the restrictions remain in place.

For Indian IT companies, the development puts the focus on local hiring, workforce planning and immigration-related uncertainties in the US.

While Infosys and TCS have played down the likely impact on their business operations, employees relying on employer-sponsored permanent residency may face delays until US authorities clarify the next steps.