US Green Card Freeze: Is the American Dream Getting Harder for Indian IT Workers?

For thousands of Indian technology professionals, working in the United States has long represented an opportunity for career growth, higher salaries and a better future. However, that dream has become more uncertain after the US government suspended the employment-based green card process for eight major technology companies, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.

The decision affects the PERM programme, an important step through which employers sponsor eligible foreign workers for permanent residency. The US administration alleges that some companies have misused employment-based immigration programmes at the expense of American workers. However, company-specific findings have not been publicly detailed, and the affected companies should not automatically be considered guilty of wrongdoing.

For Indian employees, the immediate concern is uncertainty. Workers with pending PERM applications may face delays, while professionals hoping to begin the green card process through these employers may need to reconsider their plans. The suspension does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas or green cards, but it can complicate the long-term immigration journey for affected workers.

However, the impact on Indian IT companies may be limited in the short term. TCS has said its PERM applications were in single digits over the past two years and that it does not expect a material impact on its workforce strategy. Indian IT companies have also increasingly focused on hiring locally in the US.

The bigger question is whether changing immigration rules will make skilled Indian professionals less willing to build their futures in America. For now, the American Dream remains possible, but for some workers, the path to permanent residency has become more uncertain.