The United States suspended Microsoft, Adobe and major IT outsourcing firms from a key green card programme on Thursday and opened investigations into nine leading universities.
The administration of President Donald Trump says the moves target fraud and protect American jobs. They could cut off a common route to permanent residency for foreign technology workers.
Vice President JD Vance said no US company had “abused the system more than Microsoft”. He said it laid off 6,000 American workers last year while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B temporary worker visas and nearly 3,000 green cards.
Microsoft is the largest filer of applications under the permanent labour certification process, known as PERM, according to US Labor Department data. Employers must show under PERM that a foreign hire will not harm the wages or jobs of US workers.
Sri Lankan IT professionals and students who seek work or study in the United States may be affected by changes to skilled-worker immigration rules.
