#visa

The Department of Labor has suspended eight major technology and IT outsourcing firms from participating in the PERM program, which allows companies to sponsor foreign workers for U.S. green cards. The affected companies include Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/work/cognizant-infosys-tata-wipro-hcl-among-8-it-firms-suspended-from-us-green-card-programme/articleshow/134795461.cms?from=mdr

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1anS2QFMj8/

The government cracked down on MSFT and its persistently outrageous abuse of visas. What about XOM? Are we so afraid to do do something and let everything die while planning for early retirement?

10/8/2026 - BREAKING: Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling: "I am hereby suspending from the Permanent Labor Certification Program some of the largest IT outsourcing firms in the world - Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini - and also, due to multiple active federal investigations, the Department of Labor is suspending Microsoft and Adobe from the program."

The Department of Labor just announced that eight major technology and IT outsourcing companies are being suspended from the PERM labor certification program. The list includes Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini.

PERM is the process employers use to sponsor foreign workers for employment-based green cards. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the government will stop accepting new applications and processing pending applications involving these companies. The administration cited alleged immigration program abuses and ongoing federal investigations.

This does not automatically revoke existing H-1B visas, but it could seriously affect employees waiting for employer-sponsored green cards. The timing is particularly interesting given the layoffs across the tech industry over the past several years.

For those working at these companies, how many employees are currently going through PERM? And do you think this will actually lead to more hiring of American workers, or will companies simply move more jobs offshore?

Source: Reuters, October 8, 2026.

“Today, the U.S. Labor Department froze the PERM green card program for Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini over allegations of VISA FRAUD and DISPLACING LAID-OFF American workers.

The government will no longer accept or process green card applications from these firms. This freeze cuts off any current visa worker’s pathway to permanent residency, which will cause many high-skilled foreign engineers to leave these companies.”

Comcast uses all 8 of these companies. Fraud? The impact of this may be enormous.

Next is Oracle

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/vance-suspends-microsoft-others-from-foreign-workers-applying-green-cards-accuses-company-visa-abuse

All of this while laying off 1,000s here in the USA. Makes no sense whatsoever, why do they do this, it's like we are working against ourselves.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/state-department-revokes-250000-visas-broad-immigration-vetting-crackdown.amp

Know the rules. Report suspected L-1 / L-2 abuse.
L-1 is not a general work visa. It is only for intracompany transfers for specialized roles.

• L-1A / L-1B (the worker): L-1A is for true managers and executives who direct people or an essential function—not “team leads” who mainly do the work themselves. L-1B is for specialized knowledge: special or advanced knowledge of that company’s products, processes, or systems that is not ordinary industry skill. Generic coding, support, QA, or “any open role” does not qualify. Brand-new graduates (“freshers”) almost never do: they lack the required year of qualifying foreign employment and company-specific specialized knowledge.
• L-2 (family): Spouse and unmarried children under 21 of a valid L-1 holder. The spouse can work for any U.S. employer (I-94 coded L-2S). Children cannot work. L-2 status dies if the L-1 status ends.
If a company is parking entry-level or ordinary mid-career staff on L-1/L-2 into ordinary U.S. roles that any similarly skilled worker could do, that is not how the category is written. If you see it, reporting suspected abuse is a lawful public tip.
It can be fully anonymous. Official forms say the more specifics you give, the more useful the tip is.
File here (pick one or both):
• USCIS immigration-benefit fraud/abuse tip form: https://www.uscis.gov/report-fraud/uscis-tip-form
• ICE Homeland Security Investigations tip form: https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form
• Phone (U.S./Canada): 1-866-347-2423
• State Department visa-fraud portal: https://travel.state.gov/reportvisafraud
What to put in the form (this is the easy part):
Describe the case in plain language. Include whatever you actually know:
• Company legal name and the plant / office / client site address
• Names and job titles of the people brought in (and managers who arranged it, if known)
• Visa type if you know it (L-1A, L-1B, L-2)
• Why it looks non-qualifying: fresher / recent grad, generic mid-level role, no specialized company knowledge, staffed into “any seat,” etc.
• Dates, headcount if obvious, and any documents or public listings you can safely describe
You do not have to give your name. Do not invent facts. False reports can create legal problems for the reporter; accurate, detailed suspected-fraud tips are what the agencies ask for.
Official sources on eligibility: USCIS L-1 policy (specialized knowledge and managers/executives) and USCIS L-2 dependent rules. Official tip guidance tells filers to include names, addresses, dates of birth, and worksite details when known

https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/world/us-news/story/h1b-visa-jd-vance-warns-recruiters-of-tougher-scrutiny-what-it-means-for-indian-workers-3005103-2026-09-28

What visa program is being used to bring in all of the Indian workers to be trained in the USA?

Are h1b employees required to work during garden leave? Management forcing me to work despite being on garden leave. Is it even legal? When I asked HR- they said oh it’s a grey area, but due to your status you must work. Is that a lie?

Are there any departments here at Molina that do not outsource or use offshore or contractors here on a Visa?

https://h1bhq.com/employer/u-s-bank-national-association

Every day, American workers face discrimination simply because they’re American.
Laid off and told to train your replacement who is a guest worker visa holder or GCC employee? Passed over for promotions, excluded, or harassed just because you’re American?
That’s national origin discrimination. It’s illegal, and the EEOC is fighting back to protect workers of ALL races who are American.
EEOC Chair, Andrea Lucas.
https://www.eeoc.gov/discrimination-against-american-workers-against-law

Interesting stuff. I hope gunjan gets fired and deported after this.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/enhancing-program-integrity-and-integrity-and-interagency-coordination-in-the-administration-of-the-h-1b-nonimmigrant-visa-program/

Is it going be mandatory performance cuts in October like Meta or do we wait until winter? Ryan’s message indicated it will be in the “coming years and quarters”, which implies one’s definitely happening between now and next summer.

So, here in Dublin employee from outside Ireland are celebrated excessively and there is even advice on immigration/visa!

Talk about rubbing it in after just closing offlices in Cork and Wexford. Perhaps those offices were not diverse enough?

“
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are preparing to propose a rule that would eliminate an existing grace period for visa holders who can't find a job, according to an unpublished document posted to the Federal Register.

Under current immigration laws, holders of certain visas, particularly H-1B visas, which are non-immigration visas that allow employers to sponsor skilled workers with Bachelor's degrees or higher, get a 60-day grace period to find a new job if they lose the employment tied to their visa.
The new rule proposal would eliminate that grace period, according to the document.

"This proposal restores a direct relationship between an alien’s nonimmigrant status and the specific employment or activity that formed the basis of his or her admission or grant of status in the United States and reduces administrative burden," the document reads.

A noncitizen would have to immediately leave the U.S. if no longer working for an employer linked to a visa status if the rule were to be implemented.
“

Source for the above:
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-admin-proposes-ending-60-day-grace-period-job-loss-h-1b-visa-holders

Fiserv sends US citizens home first.. H1Bs are untouchable ?

I told you 2 weeks ago.. it is happening now... very sad

So far heard several departments were hit, but fake H1Bs are very safe.. No one can touch them.

This will continue tomorrow and Friday.. Be ready..

On September 8, 2026, DOL Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito announced the suspension of permanent labor certification (PERM) filings for IT services giant Cognizant, as well as software firm Cloudera. The enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal crackdown on alleged visa fraud, wage kickbacks, and worker exploitation involving H-1B and PERM employment-based immigration programs.

" The investigation is being conducted alongside the White House Fraud Task Force. While the restriction prevents new filings, the government is also reviewing previously approved PERMs across IT consulting, staffing, and third-party placement agencies. ""

This suspension program may extend to other big employers as well.

Like dr-g tests/criminal history check etc.. why aren't H1B/STEM visa holders' background is not being checked IF they had maintained the 'legal status' prior to being a Fiserv employee ??

1. Creating fake pay stubs while on H1B with an 'uncle's garage consulting' company is not Legal. Hiring them even through Infinite is not legally approved since they already violated the H1B visa requirement ( lied to USCIS to have a paid position ).

2. STEM visa has a time limit. Prior long breaks make it invalid for not meeting the requirements and the individual becomes out of legal status.

Latest news on ending H-4 work permits for Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders.

https://www.newsweek.com/some-h-1b-spouses-could-lose-work-permits-under-trump-proposal-12384927

Doesn't fix the offshore problem, but this is a start! https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/25/2026-17324/fee-for-certain-h-1b-petitions

Doesn't fix the offshore problem, but this is a start!

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/25/2026-17324/fee-for-certain-h-1b-petitions

https://tips.uscis.gov/

There is an option for anonymous submission.

Fiserv sends U.S. Citizens that worked for very long time, Out the door first.. Very sad.

The new rule prevents new h1b to enter US. So the only best bet is holding existing H1b's.

President Donald Trump's administration on Monday released a proposed regulation to codify an unprecedented fee of more than $100,000 on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers that has been blocked by the courts.

The fee, first temporarily imposed by Trump last year, dramatically raises the cost of visas that are heavily relied on in the tech, education and research sectors.

A federal judge in June ‌ruled that the fee was illegal and blocked the Trump administration from collecting it.

A Boston-based appeals court is reviewing that ​decision while a different court considers whether a judge properly rejected a challenge to the fee by a major business group.

Trump's temporary fee increase expires in September, one year after it was issued.

The proposed rule by the Department ⁠of Homeland Security, posted in the Federal Register on Monday, would make a fee of $103,265 permanent.

It could be finalized by the end ​of the year.

If there are 10,000 jobs in India. Why are we paying a fortune for these visa workers to be here? Shouldn't they go back to India where they contribute most efficiently to the bank?

Everything is a scheme for these guys. But is not happening here according to our trusted, reliable and honest leaders!

www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eleven-indian-nationals-charged-visa-fraud-conspiracy

I read that GM is hiring a lot of the older engineers that Ford fired.

Are you seeing Ford hiring any non-visa people?

Any older people like GM?

New US immigration policies are creating significant challenges for Indian professionals. USCIS guidance now allows for petition rejections without prior requests for evidence. Additionally, a proposed rule aims to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B visa holders after job loss. These changes could lead to more immediate departures for affected workers. Experts are observing increased interest in alternative long-term visa options.

United States

https://www.latestly.com/us/h-1b-visa-holders-face-tougher-us-immigration-rules-amid-policy-shifts-report-7551741.html/amp

A good one to write to congress jn support of

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/department-of-homeland-security-plan-that-hints-at-us-government-increasing-fees-for-h-1b-and-l-1-visas-for-large-companies/amp_articleshow/132858904.cms

Visa cutting over 300 Bay Area jobs for AI

++++Was this part of the cost reduction from last week (July 27, 2026) OR there are more to come in October 2026=++++++

https://www.kron4.com/news/technology-ai/visa-cutting-over-300-bay-area-jobs-for-ai/amp/

(KRON) — New California state filings show Visa will axe 320 employees on Oct. 1 at its Foster City office. The local cuts represent just over 12% of last weeks sweeping 2,600 layoffs first reported by Bloomberg.

According to a memo it reviewed, most of those layoffs were in the firm’s technology and product operations divisions.

Visa is implementing layoffs affecting 70 employees at its Bellevue office this fall. These job cuts are part of a larger worldwide reduction of approximately 2,600 positions. The affected roles span various levels, including directors, lead engineers, and senior employees. This decision aligns with Visa's focus on efficiency and future growth, influenced by advancements in artificial intelligence. The company aims to reinvest in high-potential opportunities by evolving its operational strategies.

Bellevue, Washington

https://mynorthwest.com/local/visa-layoffs-bellevue-office/4262674

Me and few in my org effected and other are on visa program got protected. What does this mean?