Vice President JD Vance Bars Microsoft From Starting New Green‑Card Petitions

Vice President JD Vance announced a temporary prohibition on Microsoft and seven other firms from initiating fresh green‑card sponsorships for skilled foreign employees. The move follows an Oct. 8 Labor Department suspension of PERM certifications for the eight companies, which also include major Indian IT firms such as Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and HCLTech.

PERM certification is the first step an employer must take to sponsor a worker for a permanent residency. Vance accused Microsoft of exploiting the H‑1B program to replace American staff with lower‑cost overseas labor, stating, "You are a great American company, but you should hire great American workers."

He added that the ban would remain in place until a thorough review is completed. However, immigration specialists noted that, as of Oct. 13, the Labor Department had not issued a detailed written order outlining the duration or scope of the suspension.

The announcement coincided with President Donald Trump presenting the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who previously entered the United States on an H‑1B visa. The juxtaposition highlighted the paradox of honoring an immigrant leader while restricting pathways for similar talent.

Vance’s stance has sparked a debate about the balance between protecting domestic employment and preserving the flow of high‑skill immigration that fuels the U.S. tech sector.