GTech plans to seek Indian intervention over U.S. PERM restrictions

Kerala industry body GTech plans to approach India’s government over the suspension of eight technology companies from the U.S. PERM programme. Chairman Jijo G. John said the restrictions affect employees’ plans to obtain permanent residency.

PERM is the permanent labour certification process used for certain employer-sponsored green cards. The suspension affects new and pending company applications. It does not automatically end the existing immigration status of all their foreign workers.

The firms include Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Cognizant, alongside Microsoft, Adobe and Capgemini. GTech represents information technology and business process management organisations in Kerala.

John described the decision as a serious setback for employees, many of whom have waited years for green cards. He said GTech wants India’s government to raise the issue with U.S. authorities. The article describes that approach as a plan, rather than talks that have already taken place.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs clarified that suspending PERM applications does not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of holders and their dependants. It can nevertheless affect eligible employees’ permanent residency process at the companies concerned.

Progressive Techies president Anish Panthalani suggested that the possible return of experienced staff to India could benefit the local technology sector. Entrepreneur Nandakishore Harikumar disagreed, pointing to the difficulty of providing large numbers of highly paid jobs.

Harikumar also highlighted wider economic links, including property investment funded by remittances from Indians working abroad. He believes U.S. businesses could be affected as well. Those assessments concern possible consequences, not a confirmed mass return of employees.