On October 8, 2026, the Department of Labor suspended eight major employers from filing new PERM labor certification applications — the first formal step in most employment-based green card cases. If you work for one of these companies and have a pending or planned PERM filing, here’s what’s actually known, versus what’s still speculation.
This is a fast-moving, contested policy action. Treat anything here dated after this guide’s publication date with extra caution, and confirm your specific situation with qualified immigration counsel — this is informational, not legal advice.
Who was named
Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the suspension, naming eight companies:
- Microsoft
- Adobe
- Cognizant
- Infosys
- Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
- Wipro
- HCL
- Capgemini
Officials cited ongoing investigations into these employers but have not released the specific allegations or the legal basis for the action.
What the suspension actually does
Based on the announcement as reported by immigration law firms covering the story:
- The Department of Labor will not accept new PERM filings from these eight employers while investigations are underway.
- Pending PERM applications already filed by these employers are reportedly halted, not processed further, for the duration.
- No other employers are currently named or affected — PERM remains open and unchanged for every other sponsor.
What the suspension does NOT appear to do
- It does not cancel already-approved PERM labor certifications.
- It does not cancel already-filed I-140 immigrant petitions built on a prior PERM approval.
- It does not suspend H-1B visas generally — this is specifically about the PERM green-card track, not nonimmigrant work authorization.
- A processing pause is legally distinct from a denial; it does not by itself terminate anyone’s current immigration status.
These are the current best-available readings from immigration-practice reporting — no written DOL or USCIS notice spelling out scope has been published as of this guide’s date, so confirm specifics with counsel rather than relying solely on secondary summaries.
If you work for one of these employers
- Don’t assume the worst or the best. Ask your employer’s immigration/HR team directly what stage your specific PERM case is at and whether it falls inside the suspension’s scope.
- Watch your H-1B clock. If you’re relying on a pending I-140/PERM for an AC21 extension beyond the six-year H-1B limit, a stalled PERM case has real timing consequences — raise this with counsel now, not when you’re close to the limit.
- Don’t make irreversible moves based on rumor. Changing jobs, travel plans, or status based on unconfirmed reporting can create its own problems. Confirm with a licensed immigration attorney before acting.
- Keep records. Save confirmation numbers, filing dates, and any employer communications about your case’s status — useful if you need to document timing later.
How this fits the broader PERM process
If you’re unfamiliar with how PERM labor certification normally works — the recruitment steps, prevailing wage determination, and filing sequence — see our PERM labor certification process guide for the baseline process this suspension interrupts. For the next step after PERM approval, see our H-1B to green card guide.
Related reading
If your H-1B status timing is affected, see the H-1B visa transfer guide for options if you need to change employers while your case is in limbo, or browse US work visa guides generally.
Navigating a fast-changing policy action like this — and knowing exactly which steps in your own case are and aren’t affected — is exactly the kind of document and timeline tracking VisaMet is designed to help with. Join the waitlist for early access.
Sources
- Boundless — DOL suspends employers’ PERM labor certification
- Envoy Global — Trump administration suspends PERM processing for select technology and IT companies
- Manifest Law — DOL halts PERM, news 10/8/26
No official written DOL or USCIS notice was located during research; the above reflects law-firm and immigration-news reporting as of October 2026. Confirm current status directly with DOL and your employer’s immigration counsel.