The U.S. government has suspended Microsoft’s access to PERM, the labor-certification program used to sponsor skilled foreign workers for permanent residency, or green cards.
Vice President JD Vance announced the move, saying it was intended to protect American workers. No evidence was provided that Microsoft had replaced U.S. employees with H-1B visa holders. The suspension also affects other major tech and IT companies, including Adobe, Cognizant and Infosys.
The action could complicate permanent-residency applications for many of Microsoft’s foreign employees, but it does not prevent the company from hiring H-1B visa holders. Microsoft, a major user of the H-1B program, said it is cooperating with the administration and that its petitions comply with visa requirements and are primarily for existing employees.
The development draws attention to the workforce composition of major tech firms and adds political risk for companies that rely on global talent.