News desk: Four major Indian IT companies — Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro and HCL — had significantly reduced their applications for employment-based green card labour certification even before the US government suspended them from the programme. The development suggests that the latest immigration restrictions may have a limited immediate impact on their workforce strategies.
The US government announced on Thursday that it was suspending eight technology companies, including the four Indian IT giants, from the green card labour certification programme. The administration argued that granting permanent residency to foreign workers on H-1B visas could undermine employment opportunities for American workers.
However, an analysis of US immigration data shows that applications and approvals under the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) process had already declined sharply among several affected companies since fiscal year 2024.
TCS recorded just two PERM approvals in 2026 as of June 30, compared with 1,804 in FY2024 — a decline of approximately 99.8%. The company said its PERM applications had remained in single digits over the past two years and that it did not expect the suspension to affect its workforce strategy or customer engagements.
TCS also announced plans to hire an additional 15,000 employees in the United States over the next five years, with the aim of expanding its local workforce.
Wipro, meanwhile, received no PERM approvals in 2026, following 506 approvals in FY2025. Infosys recorded no approvals in FY2025 or FY2026, after receiving 87 in FY2024. HCL America Inc. and HCL America Solutions together received 66 approvals as of June 30, 2026, compared with 350 in FY2025.
Cognizant, which was founded in India and is now headquartered in the United States, was also included in the suspension. The company received no PERM approvals in FY2025 and FY2026, down from 1,235 in FY2024.
Indian IT industry points to local hiring
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) said Indian technology firms had reduced their dependence on H-1B visas while expanding recruitment in the United States.
The industry body added that the number of employees moving from H-1B status to permanent residency through the PERM process was relatively limited.
What is PERM certification?
PERM is generally the first major step employers must complete before sponsoring a foreign worker for an employment-based green card. The process requires employers to meet prevailing wage requirements and demonstrate that qualified American workers are not available for the position under the applicable rules.
Once certification is approved, an employer can proceed with the relevant green card petition.
Immigration lawyers say technology companies have increasingly adapted their hiring strategies in anticipation of tighter US immigration policies, focusing more on local recruitment and controlling sponsorship costs.
The suspension adds another challenge for Indian IT companies operating in the United States. However, their declining PERM activity in recent years suggests that the immediate impact may be smaller than the headline announcement indicates. The longer-term consequences will depend on the scope of the restrictions and how US immigration policy evolves.
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