United States freezes permanent green card hiring for major technology companies

The United States has suspended eight technology firms from hiring skilled foreign workers on a permanent basis through a widely used visa pathway, BBC News reported. The decision affects major companies including Microsoft, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, and HCL Technologies. According to the report, the freeze applies to both new and pending applications under the Permanent Labor Certification Program, also known as PERM. [1][2]

The policy change creates significant obstacles for Indian technology workers who rely on repeated visa renewals and eventual permanent residency, BBC News reported. For many skilled professionals, getting a posting in the United States and securing a green card has been a standard career path. Increasing immigration restrictions and reduced international hiring by technology companies are making permanent United States residency far harder to achieve. [1]

Separately, United States President Donald Trump stated that the United States and India are close to reaching a trade deal, according to The New Indian Express. President Trump suggested that any new agreement would look substantially different from previous trade pacts between the two nations. [3]