The US government's decision to suspend several major technology companies from sponsoring foreign employees for permanent residency has sparked concern among Indian professionals seeking to settle in the country. However, former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai believes the move is unlikely to affect workers immediately, citing the lengthy queues for employment-based Green Cards and the reduction in visa-dependent hiring by these companies.
Pai said the announcement should not be interpreted as a blanket suspension of Green Cards for employees of the affected firms. Instead, the restrictions prevent employers from starting or moving forward with sponsorship applications under the Permanent Labour Certification Programme, commonly known as PERM.
"The US has not suspended anybody from anything," Pai said in a video shared by news agency ANI. He clarified that the restrictions apply to companies sponsoring employees for permanent residency and do not cancel the existing immigration status of workers.
Pai argued that the immediate impact could be limited because Indian professionals already endure lengthy waits for permanent residency.
"There's a huge queue for getting a Green Card after people have been sponsored. It is taking 10 to 15 years for people to get a Green Card," he said, adding that the suspension was therefore unlikely to have an immediate effect on workers.
However, the difference between short-term disruption and longer-term consequences remains significant. Employees whose employers have not yet submitted their PERM applications may be unable to begin the process of entering the Green Card queue while the restrictions remain in place. For Indian professionals already facing substantial backlogs, this could result in the loss of valuable time.
TCS says US hiring plans remain unchanged
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), one of the companies covered by the US action, said it does not anticipate any impact on its workforce plans or customer engagements.
The company stated that the number of PERM applications it had filed over the past two years was in the single digits. It also reaffirmed its commitment to recruit an additional 15,000 employees in the US over the next five years, adding to its existing presence across 31 offices and delivery centres in the country.
TCS said its American workforce strategy prioritises local recruitment, including hiring through campus programmes. It added that it would comply with any instructions issued by the US Department of Labor.
The company's statement indicates that the restrictions may have little direct effect on its current recruitment plans. However, the situation could differ for other affected firms and their employees, particularly those relying on employer sponsorship to obtain permanent residency.
Sridhar Vembu urges Indian tech workers to return home
Indians have made a major contribution to America's technological prowess. Yet, a big part of America no longer wants us. Indians who are on a visa in the US face the painful prospect of uprooting the life you have built with hard work. Let this be the birth pains of a bold new future. Come back, let's build India — Sridhar Vembu (@svembu), October 9, 2026
The announcement has also fuelled a wider discussion about the future of Indian professionals in the US and whether India should emerge as a stronger destination for technology talent.
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu said Indians had played a major role in strengthening America's technological capabilities but were increasingly facing uncertainty about their future in the country.
"Indians have made a major contribution to America's technological prowess. Yet, a big part of America no longer wants us," Vembu wrote.
He recognised the difficulties Indian professionals could face if they were forced to leave behind the lives they had built in the US. He also encouraged them to consider returning to India and helping drive the country's development.
"Let this be the birth pains of a bold new future. Come back, let's build India," he said.
Vembu's comments highlight the broader concerns surrounding US immigration policy. Beyond the immediate disruption to employer-sponsored Green Card applications, prolonged uncertainty could affect where skilled Indian professionals choose to pursue their careers.
Why the suspension matters for Indians
The US action applies to major technology and IT services companies, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant and Capgemini, as well as Microsoft and Adobe. American officials have alleged that foreign-worker programmes were misused and that US employees were displaced as a result.
The restrictions do not require all Indian employees of these companies to leave the US, nor do they cancel Green Cards that have already been granted. The effect on individual workers will depend on their current stage in the immigration process and the rules governing their cases.
The potential consequences are more significant for employees who have not yet started the employer-sponsored permanent residency process. Some H-1B visa holders also depend on specific immigration milestones to qualify for extensions beyond the standard six-year limit. If the start of the PERM process is delayed, their options could become more complicated, depending on their individual circumstances.
