The US federal government said on the 8th that it will suspend the participation of Microsoft and many other technology companies in the “permanent labor certification” program. The program is the first step for foreign employees with H-1B visas to apply for permanent residency in the United States as professional immigrants through their employers. Meanwhile, nine American universities, including Harvard University and Stanford University, are facing investigation for “suspected J-1 visa fraud.” When announcing the decision against Microsoft at a press conference held at the White House on the same day, US Vice President Vance said that the company “committed fraud” and that Microsoft must hire excellent American workers. “You cannot fire American workers and then replace them with foreign workers with unstable conditions.” US Secretary of Labor Sandrin added that large technology companies such as Odoby, Kochi, and Infosys will be suspended from participating in the program to apply for green cards for their employees, and “we will no longer accept or process any new or pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies.” Vance said that this measure against relevant technology companies will continue until the “necessary period.”

The US federal government said on the 8th that it will suspend the participation of Microsoft and many other technology companies in the “permanent labor certification” program. The program is the first step for foreign employees with H-1B visas to apply for permanent residency in the United States as professional immigrants through their employers. Meanwhile, nine American universities, including Harvard University and Stanford University, are facing investigation for “suspected J-1 visa fraud.” When announcing the decision against Microsoft at a press conference held at the White House on the same day, US Vice President Vance said that the company “committed fraud” and that Microsoft must hire excellent American workers. “You cannot fire American workers and then replace them with foreign workers with unstable conditions.” US Secretary of Labor Sandrin added that large technology companies such as Odoby, Kochi, and Infosys will be suspended from participating in the program to apply for green cards for their employees, and “we will no longer accept or process any new or pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies.” Vance said that this measure against relevant technology companies will continue until the “necessary period.”