Eight tech firms suspended from visa program

The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft, Adobe, Capgemini, Cognizant, HCL, Infosys, Tata and Wipro from a program helping skilled foreign workers obtain permanent residency, accusing them of fraud.

No new applications accepted

Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said the government would not accept any new or pending permanent labor certification applications involving these eight companies.

Vice President's message to Microsoft

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said at a news conference on Thursday: "Our message to Microsoft is: You're a great American company, but you've got to hire great American workers."

“Our message to Microsoft is: You're a great American company, but you've got to hire great American workers.”

H-one B visas explained

H-one B visas are designed for highly skilled positions that employers may struggle to fill with qualified U.S.workers.Tech companies are among the largest users, with nearly three-quarters of approved visas going to workers from India.

Microsoft's defence of hiring

Microsoft said eighty percent of its approximately six thousand H-one B visa applications in the last fiscal year were to extend or change the status of existing employees, not to hire new people.

New hires already in the country

Microsoft said the remaining filings for new employees were for individuals already legally in the United States who decided to come work for it, equalling only one percent of its U.S. workforce.

Universities under investigation

Vice President Vance said the administration would investigate nine universities, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, over allegations they are abusing a program for international students and using it to undermine wages for American workers.