US-India employment-based immigration tensions

Indian professionals are facing extensive employment-based Green Card backlogs in the United States. According to the October Visa Bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 categories for Indian applicants show cutoff dates dating back to 2013 and 2014, respectively, representing waits of over a decade. While the EB-1 category saw some advancement for Indian and Chinese applicants, significant delays persist in other professional categories.

Tensions have escalated following US government actions regarding the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program. The US has suspended several major IT outsourcing firms—including Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft, and Adobe—from participating in the PERM process amid allegations that the H-1B visa system is being misused to replace American workers.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has condemned these restrictions and criticized remarks by US Vice President JD Vance, who referred to foreign workers as ‘indentured servants.’ The Ministry stated that such comments ignore the fact that Indian professionals are “highly skilled contributors to the US economy, innovation, and productivity.” While the suspension does not affect current H-1B visa holders, officials noted it may impact the Green Card process for eligible employees at the affected companies.