US green card freeze on 8 IT firms: Sridhar Vembu urges Indian techies to return, Dharmendra Pradhan backs appeal | Today’s news
Zoho Corporation co-founder Sridhar Vembu has called on Indian tech professionals in the United States to come home and help build India’s tech sector, with former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan backing his call amid uncertainty over green card sponsorships for eight tech companies.
In a post on X Vemba, he emphasized the contribution of Indians to America’s technological development, but said that part of the country no longer wanted them.
“Indians have contributed significantly to America’s technological prowess. Yet much of America no longer wants us,” Vembu wrote.
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
The eight companies are TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe. The U.S. Department of Labor linked the suspension to several ongoing federal investigations.
The US Department of Labor will not accept new or pending PERM-based labor certification applications involving suspended companies. PERM is a step employers generally need before sponsoring eligible foreign workers for employment-based permanent residency.
No. The suspension does not automatically stop H-1B applications under existing rules, nor does it mean that employees will lose their existing H-1B visas or green cards.
The employer generally advertises the job, considers applicants, and documents why qualified US workers were not selected. If the Department of Labor approves the certification, the employer can file an immigration petition with USCIS.
Vembu said Indian professionals had made significant contributions to American technology, but some faced uncertainty about their future there. He urged them to come back and help build India’s technology sector, a call endorsed by Dharmendra Pradhan.
He also pointed to the difficulties faced by Indian professionals who have built a life in the US and may now have to rethink their future.
“Indians who have a US visa face the painful prospect of uprooting the life you have built through hard work,” he said.
Urging Indian professionals to contribute to the country’s growth, Vembu added, “Let these be the birth pangs of a brave new future. Come back, let’s build India.”
Responding to Vembu’s post, Pradhan agreed with the Zoho co-founder’s call and emphasized the importance of strengthening India’s indigenous technology capabilities.
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“I agree with you @SVembu Ji,” Pradhan wrote on X.
“Indian talent has made significant contributions to technological advancements around the world. Every challenge presents an opportunity to build on this strength, deepen our capabilities and foster greater innovation at home,” he said.
“With confidence in our talent and determination to build our own capabilities, we can help shape the future of technology,” added Pradhan.
The US has excluded large IT companies from the Green Card program
The remarks followed US Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling’s announcement on Thursday that eight technology companies had been suspended from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program.
The list includes Indian IT services companies Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro and HCLTech, as well as Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the suspensions are related to several ongoing federal investigations.
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The decision halts new and pending PERM-based green card sponsorship applications for the affected companies. PERM is a labor certification process that employers must generally complete before sponsoring eligible foreign workers for employment-based permanent residency in the US.
The development has raised concerns among workers who are permanent residents and companies planning for long-term workforces.
The move comes as the U.S. H-1B visa program, which allows employers to recruit qualified foreign workers for specialized occupations, faces increased scrutiny.
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The US vice president also condemned the program, saying it was designed to bring highly skilled foreign professionals into the country for roles that could not be filled by American workers.
“Unfortunately, the program is full of fraud,” he said.
However, the suspension of PERM processing does not automatically halt H-1B visa applications under existing program rules.
Vembu’s call, which Pradhan endorsed, has renewed focus on India’s potential to attract skilled tech professionals and boost homegrown innovation, as some Indian workers face uncertainty about their long-term future in the US.
