Green card ban: Indian IT sector panics as US hits Tech giants, plans discussions

Kochi: The Indian IT sector has voiced deep concern over the latest Green Card announcement by the Trump administration. The decision to suspend eight major technology firms from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme, a mandatory requirement for Green Card applications, is expected to deal a major blow to Indian professionals.

Industry bodies, including leading IT associations, have raised alarm over the development.

The eight suspended companies are Microsoft, Adobe, Capgemini, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, and Cognizant. The suspension halts all new and pending Green Card applications for employees working at these firms. Thousands of Indian IT professionals currently working in the United States, many of whom are in the middle of their permanent residency process, face severe disruption.

Describing the move as deeply unfortunate, G-Tech (Group of Technology Companies), an association of IT firms, noted that full details regarding the grounds for the suspension are still emerging. Speaking to Mathrubhumi, G-Tech chairman Jijo G John stated that the leadership would convene to discuss the situation and outline a course of action. G-Tech plans to convey the industry's concerns directly to the Government of India and US diplomatic representatives in India. NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies), the national IT body, has also voiced strong concerns over the ruling.

Obtaining a Green Card in the US is often a multi-year process. Highly skilled professionals on H-1B visas typically apply for permanent residency through their employers before their authorised temporary stay expires. A huge number of Indian workers currently have their applications stuck at various stages of processing.

According to recent data, Indian nationals account for nearly 71 per cent of all active H-1B visa holders in the United States. The annual cap stands at 85,000 visas, comprising 65,000 standard visas and an additional 20,000 reserved for candidates with advanced degrees from US institutions. China follows India as the second-largest recipient of H-1B visas.

Previously released figures highlight Amazon as the largest employer of H-1B visa holders, followed closely by TCS, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Cognizant. Several of these top employers are explicitly included in the current suspension list.

Industry analysts view this measure as part of a broader “buy American, hire American” protectionist push. The decision follows a recent hike in H-1B visa filing fees, which had already put considerable strain on the IT sector.