US Moves to Bar TCS From Green Card Programme; Here’s the Company’s Response

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has responded to the US government’s decision to suspend the company from the employment-based green card programme, saying its workforce strategy in the country is anchored in hiring local talent. The development comes as the Donald Trump administration steps up scrutiny of employment-based immigration and the use of foreign workers by major technology companies.

The US Department of Labor announced on October 8 that it was suspending several major technology firms, including TCS, from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme, which allows employers to sponsor eligible foreign workers for permanent residency. Indian IT Giants Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL Suspended From US PERM Programme: What It Means For Green Card Applicants.

TCS Emphasises Local Hiring in the US

TCS has highlighted its focus on building a local workforce in the United States in response to the government’s action. The company’s position comes amid growing scrutiny of how major IT services firms recruit and employ foreign professionals in the American market. The suspension could affect the ability of TCS and other targeted companies to initiate or advance employment-based green card applications for eligible employees while the restriction remains in force.

US Suspends TCS and Other Major IT Firms From PERM Programme

The US Department of Labor has suspended eight technology companies from the PERM programme. Besides TCS, the companies named include Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant, Microsoft, Adobe and Capgemini.

US Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the action alongside Vice President JD Vance, alleging that the programme had been misused at the expense of American workers. The administration has argued that some companies relied on foreign labour while displacing or undercutting domestic employees. The department said it would not accept new permanent labour certification applications from the affected companies or process their pending applications. Donald Trump Honours Elon Musk As 'Modern-Day Thomas Edison' With National Medal of Science.

What Is the PERM Programme?

The Permanent Labor Certification programme is a key step in the US employment-based immigration process. It generally requires employers to demonstrate that qualified, willing and available US workers cannot be found for a particular position and that employing a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed American workers.

Once labour certification is approved, employers can proceed with the relevant stages of the employment-based green card process, subject to applicable immigration requirements. The suspension is separate from the H-1B visa programme, which allows US employers to hire foreign professionals for specialised occupations on a temporary basis. The latest action does not, by itself, cancel existing H-1B visas held by employees of the affected companies.

Impact on Indian IT Professionals

The decision could delay the permanent residency process for employees whose green card applications depend on PERM certification through the affected employers. The extent of the impact will depend on individual cases, the stage of each application and how long the suspensions remain in place. The development is particularly significant for Indian technology professionals, many of whom face lengthy waits for employment-based green cards because of country-specific limits and high demand.

India’s technology industry body, Nasscom, has said that Indian IT companies have reduced their dependence on H-1B visas in recent years while expanding local hiring in the US. It has also stressed that temporary skilled-worker mobility and permanent immigration are distinct issues. The latest move adds another layer of uncertainty for Indian IT companies operating in the United States as the administration increases its scrutiny of foreign-worker programmes.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2026 09:12 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).