US visa scrutiny, PERM suspension adds to job uncertainty for Indian workers on H-1B visas

Indians, especially Telugu professionals and students in the US, are facing heightened anxiety after the suspension of the PERM labour certification process for eight major IT companies. The move has intensified concerns among H-1B visa holders awaiting employer-sponsored Green Cards.

Hyderabad: Job uncertainty, panic, stress and anxiety sum up the situation being faced by several Indians, particularly Telugus, in the US, on F-1 student visas and H-1B work visas.

After the announcement of a $ 100,000 H-1B fee and reports of a proposed $70,000 fee for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) application and $30,000 for subsequent extensions, the US government’s suspension of the PERM (Programme Electronic Review Management) labour certification process for issuance of employment-based Green Cards for major IT companies has left Indians even more worried.

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The eight companies, which have been suspended from PERM filing, are Microsoft, Adobe, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant and Capgemini.

This suspension is a major blow to H-1B workers who are on visa extensions or are waiting for an employer-sponsored green card processing.

The H-1B visa is granted for a maximum of six years. Prior to the expiry of the visa, the employer must apply for the PERM certification on behalf of a foreign worker to the US Department of Labour (DOL). This is the first step towards obtaining an employment-based Green Card in the US.

The companies have to prove that they did not find an able, willing, qualified and available US worker for the job and that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely impact the wages and working conditions of Americans.

Unlike the earlier processing time of three months, the DOL is currently taking 12 to 14 months to review PERM applications, which do not have a premium processing option like for the H-1B.

Once approved by the DOL, the employer can expedite the process by applying for Form I-140 (immigrant petition) under the premium category by paying additional charges.

After the expiry of the six year H-1B work visa, foreign workers who receive an approved I-140 are eligible to continue working in the US. The suspension will not affect foreign workers who have already filed PERM applications or received I-140 approval.

“There is a sense of panic, stress and job anxiety among Indians. Now that PERM has been suspended for eight companies, foreign workers on H-1B extension in these companies have to look for another job to stay in the US or go back home. Even if they change their job, the new company might or might not offer the PERM process as they have their own rules of mandatory one or two years of service,” said Rajesh, a Telugu techie working in Dallas.

Earlier, the US announced a $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions in 2025. This triggered concerns among Indian professionals and US companies. However, later the White House clarified that the fee would be for applications for workers outside the US but not to existing visa holders or routine renewals. However, a federal court halted its implementation in 2026.

Similarly, US universities and international students faced uncertainty over visa cancellations, student immigration records and proposed changes to the duration of student stays. In fact, several prominent universities called back their foreign students who were on vacation fearing visa cancellations.

“These measures by the Trump administration appear to be aimed at winning the midterm elections. The H-1B scrutiny for renewal has become tougher. They are going through each and every document, and they are not renewing it even if they find minute discrepancy. People with renewal pending are not taking domestic flights as officers are randomly checking documents of the fliers at airports. So, we are choosing road travel for small vacations,” said Pavani, who works with a US pharmaceutical company.