Indian IT firms cut PERM applications, limiting impact of US suspension
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Indian IT companies facing suspension from the US Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme have filed fewer applications in recent years, suggesting the move may have a limited impact on their workforce strategies and operations.
The US on Thursday suspended eight IT companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro and HCL, from the programme, alleging that it had shut Americans out of the job market. The other companies are Capgemini, Cognizant, Microsoft and Adobe.
PERM application data show that TCS filed just two applications in the US financial year 2026, compared with 513 in 2025 and 1,804 in 2024. HCL filed 59 applications in 2026, down from 323 in 2025.
Wipro filed 257 applications in 2024 and 523 in 2025. Of its 257 applications in 2024, 169 were denied, and 88 were withdrawn. Infosys filed 87 applications in 2024, while data for 2025 and 2026 were unavailable.
Capgemini filed 98 applications in 2026, compared with 361 in 2025 and 300 in 2024, according to PERM Tracker. Cognizant filed 1,236 applications in 2024, with data for subsequent years unavailable.
Former HCL Technologies CEO Vineet Nayar said Indian IT companies accounted for fewer than 1,400 of the 117,849 PERM certifications issued last year, representing less than 2% of the total.
TCS said its PERM applications had been in single digits over the past two years and that it did not expect the suspension to affect its workforce strategy or customer engagements.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) said Indian technology companies had reduced their reliance on H-1B visas while expanding local hiring in the US. Consequently, relatively few employees transition from H-1B visas to permanent residency through the PERM process.
PERM certification, issued by the US Department of Labor, allows employers to hire foreign workers permanently. It is the first step towards obtaining a US green card for many professionals on work visas.