Workers sponsored by Microsoft, Adobe, and several large technology-services companies may be asking whether a new federal announcement has ended their H-1B status or canceled their green-card cases. The reported action is significant, but the distinction between temporary work status, Department of Labor certification, and USCIS processing is essential.

Plain-English Explanation

On October 8, 2026, Vice President JD Vance announced that the federal government was suspending Microsoft and other identified companies from the Permanent Labor Certification Program, commonly called PERM, citing alleged fraud and ongoing investigations. Reuters reported that the companies named also included Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini.

PERM is administered by the Department of Labor, not USCIS. In many EB-2 and EB-3 cases, the employer first asks the Labor Department to certify that there are not sufficient able, willing, qualified, and available U.S. workers for the offered position and that employing the foreign worker will not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers. After certification, the employer generally files Form I-140 with USCIS.

Think of employment-based sponsorship as a relay race. PERM is often the first runner, Form I-140 is the next, and adjustment of status or consular processing is the final leg. Stopping one employer at the PERM stage can interrupt the handoff, but it does not automatically erase every step already completed or cancel an employee's separate temporary status.

Practical Impact

Public reporting indicates that new and pending PERM applications involving the named companies may be affected. The precise effect on a particular worker depends on whether recruitment has begun, an ETA Form 9089 is pending, certification was already issued, Form I-140 is pending or approved, or Form I-485 has been pending long enough for portability rules to become relevant.

Example 1: A Microsoft employee holds valid H-1B status and the company was preparing a new PERM filing. The announced suspension may affect that sponsorship step, but it does not by itself mean the worker's H-1B approval has been revoked.

What We Know vs. What's Still Developing

We know the White House published the October 8 press conference announcing a fraud-enforcement action. Earlier Labor Department Office of Inspector General releases described investigations into alleged fraud, wage kickbacks, worker exploitation, and potential human trafficking in H-1B and PERM programs. USCIS guidance confirms that, in most employer-sponsored cases, an approved labor certification precedes Form I-140.

Important details are still developing. As of this writing, we have not located a detailed Department of Labor operational notice explaining the suspension's duration, the procedure for affected employers, or the treatment of every category of pending and previously certified case. Allegations and investigations are not the same as final findings against every company or case. Further agency guidance, litigation, or company responses may clarify the scope.

Example 2: A worker has an approved I-140 and a pending Form I-485 filed more than 180 days ago. That case is at a different stage from a worker whose PERM application has not yet been filed, and any job-portability question requires review of the approved petition, adjustment filing, and proposed new role.

Why Legal Strategy Still Matters

Headlines may describe the development as a suspension from a “green card program,” but employment-based residence is a multi-agency process. The Labor Department controls PERM certification, USCIS adjudicates Form I-140 and many adjustment applications, and the Department of State handles immigrant visas abroad. A development at one stage does not produce the same result for everyone.

Workers may also have separate immigration status through H-1B, L-1, F-1, or another classification. That status has its own employer, validity, maintenance, travel, and change-of-employer rules. Someone should not resign, travel, file a duplicate case, or assume that an approved petition is unusable based only on a news report.

For employers, the announcement raises questions about pending recruitment, filing strategy, preservation of records, employee communication, and coordination between labor-certification and immigration counsel. For workers, an individualized timeline can help separate what is confirmed from what remains uncertain.

What This Could Look Like For You

• Your employer planned a PERM filing, but the application has not yet been submitted.
• Your ETA Form 9089 is pending with the Department of Labor.
• Your PERM was certified and an I-140 is pending or approved with USCIS.
• Your adjustment application is pending and you are considering a role or employer change.

Common Misunderstanding

The announcement does not mean all H-1B visas, all employment-based green cards, or every immigration benefit connected to a named company has automatically been canceled. It concerns the companies' reported participation in the PERM labor-certification process. The effect on an individual depends on the benefit, employer, filing stage, and any later written agency instructions.

Questions People Are Asking

1. Does this announcement cancel my H-1B status?

Not by itself. H-1B classification is separate from PERM, although a worker should review the validity and conditions of the specific H-1B approval.

2. What happens if my employer already has an approved PERM?

The public announcement does not answer every previously certified case. The certification, I-140 history, priority date, and any adjustment filing should be reviewed before conclusions are drawn.

3. Are workers at companies not named in the announcement affected?

The reported suspension identifies specific companies, while the broader enforcement initiative may involve additional investigations. Workers should rely on official notices concerning their employer and case rather than general social-media claims.

Sources

• White House: Vice President Vance Press Conference on Fighting Visa Fraud
• Department of Labor OIG: Investigation into H-1B and PERM Fraud
• Department of Labor OIG: September 2026 Enforcement Update
• USCIS: How Employers Sponsor Workers for Permanent Residence
• Reuters: Report on the October 8 Announcement

Because implementation details are developing, affected employers and workers should monitor written guidance from the Labor Department and USCIS. Learn more about SanSha Law Office at https://www.sanshalawoffice.com.

If you are unsure how these changes affect your case, the immigration attorneys at SanSha Law Office can help you understand your options and plan for timely renewals.

We hope this information helps you feel more confident as you navigate the immigration process. If you have any questions or need assistance with your specific case, contact us at SanSha Law Office today at 469-777-6161. Our team is here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to get started or for a consultation — we're ready to help you move forward.

Disclaimer

We regularly update our blog section to acquaint the community with the latest changes in Immigration policies. Please note the information in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be nor should it be construed as legal advice. We can promptly and efficiently represent clients located anywhere in the US or abroad on US Immigration Policies. If you seek further clarification, don't hesitate to contact SanSha Law Office at [email protected] or call us at 469-777-6161.