On October 8, 2026, the Department of Labor suspended Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini from the PERM labor-certification program. New applications will not be accepted and pending ones will not be processed. H-1B status is unaffected. HR and mobility teams at the named employers should immediately review any open or planned green-card sponsorships.
The Department of Labor on October 8 suspended eight large technology and IT-services employers from the PERM permanent-labor-certification process. HR business partners, immigration managers and talent-acquisition leaders at the affected companies must map the impact on employees approaching the six-year H-1B limit.
This note summarizes publicly reported government action and is not immigration advice.
- What changed? DOL will not accept new or process pending PERM applications involving the eight named employers.
- When? Announced October 8, 2026, by Vice President Vance and Labor Secretary Sonderling. No end date has been published.
- Who is affected? Employees of Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini who rely on employer-sponsored PERM for employment-based green cards.
- What to do this week? Identify employees within 18 months of the H-1B six-year limit; pause new PERM filings; communicate status to affected staff.
What did the Department of Labor announce?
On October 8, 2026, Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, joined by Vice President JD Vance, stated that the Department would not accept any new or process any pending permanent labor certification applications involving Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini. Microsoft and Adobe were cited in connection with multiple active federal investigations; the six IT-services firms were cited for filing volume. H-1B visas themselves are not suspended. Sonderling noted that since 2009 these companies had sought almost three million foreign workers, received over 230,000 H-1B approvals, and more than 100,000 permanent labor certifications.
The announcement was made at a press conference. No formal Federal Register notice or detailed written order has been published as of October 14. Officials described the action as part of a broader effort against alleged program abuse.
How does PERM fit the green-card process?
PERM is the Department of Labor’s permanent-labor-certification step that most employer-sponsored employment-based green-card cases must clear before an I-140 petition can be filed with USCIS. A suspension freezes that first step for the named employers. Approved I-140s and existing H-1B status remain intact. Workers who have not yet reached the PERM stage lose the ability to start or continue the process through their current employer. For employees approaching the six-year H-1B limit, the inability to file or continue a PERM can affect eligibility for extensions beyond six years that depend on a pending or approved labor certification.
Why was the action taken now?
Officials pointed to alleged abuse of the program to replace U.S. workers and to ongoing investigations at Microsoft and Adobe. The announcement continues a series of targeted PERM actions earlier in 2026. No formal Federal Register notice or regulatory citation has been published as of October 14, and no reinstatement process or duration has been stated. Vice President Vance stated that the suspensions would remain in place as long as needed.
What should HR and mobility teams do this week?
Create a list of all employees currently in PERM or scheduled to file within the next 12 months. Flag anyone within 18–24 months of the H-1B six-year limit so alternative strategies (change of employer, NIW, O-1, or other) can be evaluated with counsel. Pause new PERM recruitment and filings. Issue a clear internal communication that H-1B status is unaffected and that the suspension is limited to the eight named employers. Review vendor contracts if any of the suspended IT-services firms provide staffed resources whose immigration status depends on the vendor’s PERM filings. Document the pause for internal compliance records.
What to watch next?
DOL has not published an end date or a written notice. Monitor for any Federal Register publication, inspector-general updates, or company statements on reinstatement criteria. Parallel scrutiny of H-1B usage and university investigations announced the same day may produce further guidance. Employers outside the named eight continue to be able to file PERM under ordinary rules.
FAQ
Does this cancel existing H-1B visas?
No. The suspension is limited to PERM labor certifications for the eight employers.
Are other employers affected?
Reporting indicates the action is targeted at the eight named firms. Other employers may continue to file PERM.
What happens to pending PERM applications?
DOL stated it will not process pending applications involving the named employers.
Is there a published end date?
No end date or reinstatement process has been announced.
Does this affect approved I-140 petitions?
Approved I-140s remain intact; the suspension targets the PERM stage itself.
Last Updated: October 14, 2026. Related: HR Hub.