US suspends Microsoft, major IT firms from key green card program

The U.S. government is suspending Microsoft, Adobe and several major IT firms from the PERM green card process in the United States on Thursday, citing alleged fraud and an effort to encourage hiring American workers. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the government would reject new and pending permanent labor certification applications involving the companies. The administration also announced investigations into nine universities over allegations involving international students and federally funded research.

The suspended companies include Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini, in addition to Microsoft and Adobe.

The PERM process requires the Labor Department to certify that no qualified, willing or available U.S. worker exists for a specific job before most employment-based green card petitions can be filed.

Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito said subpoenas had already been served on the universities under investigation, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford.

Vice President JD Vance said the administration wants Microsoft to hire more American workers.

Published Oct 9, 2026 12:40 am KST

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administer the Oath of Allegiance to America's newest citizens during a special naturalization ceremony at Everglades National Park, Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center in Homestead, Fla., Jul. 3, 2019. Miami Herald via AP-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government is suspending Microsoft , Adobe and several large IT firms from a program that allows skilled foreign workers to gain permanent residency, senior U.S. officials announced on Thursday, citing alleged fraud, and as part of an effort to push companies to hire more Americans.

"Our message to Microsoft is: You're a great American company, but you've got to hire great American workers," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said.

Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling added that some of the largest IT firms in the world would also be suspended from that program, including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini.

"We will not accept any new or process any pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies," Sonderling said.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under the PERM process, employers seek certification from the Department of Labor that there is no qualified, willing or available U.S. worker for a specific job. It's a step required before filing petitions for most employment-based green cards.

Vance also said nine universities, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, would be investigated for allegedly bringing in international students to undercut American wages. Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito said subpoenas had already been served.

"We will investigate whether foreign influence, improper financial relationships, or visa abuse are compromising federally funded research," D'Esposito said. "If an American university is breaking the law to save $1 while exposing American research to a foreign adversary, that is not academic excellence. It's institutional betrayal."

美国政府周四宣布暂停微软、Adobe及其他几家大型IT公司在美国的永久劳工证（PERM）申请流程，理由是涉嫌欺诈以及试图鼓励雇用美国工人。劳工部长基思·桑德林表示，政府将拒绝这些公司提交的新的和正在审批中的永久劳工证申请。此外，政府还宣布对九所大学展开调查，调查内容涉及国际学生和联邦资助的研究项目。

被暂停运营的公司包括 Cognizant、Infosys、Tata、Wipro、HCL 和 Capgemini，以及微软和 Adob​​e。

PERM 流程要求劳工部证明，在大多数基于就业的绿卡申请提交之前，没有合格、愿意或可用的美国工人能够胜任特定工作。

劳工监察长安东尼·德埃斯波西托表示，已向正在接受调查的大学发出传票，其中包括哈佛大学、耶鲁大学和斯坦福大学。

副总统JD Vance表示，政府希望微软雇用更多美国工人。

发布于2026年10月9日凌晨12:40（韩国标准时间）

2019年7月3日，美国公民及移民服务局（USCIS）在佛罗里达州霍姆斯特德市大沼泽地国家公园的欧内斯特·F·科游客中心举行入籍仪式，为新入籍的美国公民主持效忠宣誓。图片来源：迈阿密先驱报（美联社/韩联社）

华盛顿——美国高级官员周四宣布，美国政府将暂停微软、Adobe 和几家大型 IT 公司参与一项允许技术娴熟的外国工人获得永久居留权的计划，理由是涉嫌欺诈，此举旨在推动这些公司雇用更多美国人。

“我们想对微软说：你们是一家伟大的美国公司，但你们必须雇用优秀的美国工人，”美国副总裁JD Vance说道。

劳工部长基思·桑德林补充说，一些全球最大的IT公司也将被暂停参与该计划，包括Cognizant、Infosys、Tata、Wipro、HCL和Capgemini。

“我们将不再受理涉及这些公司的任何新的或正在处理的永久劳工认证申请，”Sonderling说道。

微软尚未对此事作出回应。

根据PERM申请流程，雇主需要向劳工部申请证明，证明没有符合资格、愿意或能够胜任特定工作的美国工人。这是申请大多数基于就业的绿卡之前必须经过的步骤。

万斯还表示，包括哈佛大学、耶鲁大学和斯坦福大学在内的九所大学将因涉嫌引进国际学生以压低美国工资而接受调查。劳工监察长安东尼·德埃斯波西托表示，传票已经送达。

“我们将调查是否存在外国势力干预、不正当的财务关系或签证滥用等行为损害联邦政府资助的研究，”德斯波西托说。“如果一所美国大学为了节省1美元而违法，同时将美国的研究成果暴露给外国敌对势力，那不是学术卓越，而是机构背叛。”