You may have spent years building your career in the United States. Your employer may have started the green-card process. You may have made decisions about where to live, whether to buy a home, or when your family could finally plan for the long term.
Then the immigration landscape changes.
On October 8, the Trump administration announced a suspension of new and pending PERM labor-certification applications involving Microsoft, Adobe, and six major IT services companies. Officials cited alleged abuse of the employment-based immigration system. The administration also announced investigations into nine universities concerning alleged misuse of the J-1 exchange-visitor program.
For people whose plans depend on these processes, this is more than a policy headline. It raises real questions about work, family, timing, and what comes next.
What changed, and who could be affected?
PERM, or Program Electronic Review Management, is a labor-certification process administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. It is a required step in many employer-sponsored green-card cases, although not every employment-based immigration category requires it.
The eight companies named in the announcement are Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Capgemini. Administration officials said the government would stop accepting new and processing pending PERM applications involving these employers.
The government has cited alleged abuse and fraud. Those allegations should be distinguished from a final finding about any individual application or worker.
The announcement does not automatically mean that every employee’s visa has been canceled, that every green-card case has been denied, or that every worker at these companies is affected in the same way. The practical impact depends on the person’s case and how the announced suspension is implemented.
If your employer is named, the first step is to understand where your case stands, rather than assume the worst or rush into a different visa category.
If your green-card process is affected, what should you review?
Start with the details of your current case:
- Where is your application? Has your employer started PERM, filed it, received approval, or moved on to an I-140 immigrant petition?
- What is your current immigration status? Check the terms and expiration date of your existing status separately from your green-card process.
- What has the government formally changed? A public announcement and written implementation guidance may answer different questions. Confirm what applies to your specific case.
- What options could fit your situation? Your qualifications, work history, employer, family circumstances, and long-term goals all matter.
You do not need to assume that your existing status has ended or that you must immediately change immigration categories. But if your plans depend on a pending employment-based process, it is sensible to review the situation before making major decisions.
Could an O-1 visa be an option?
For some professionals, yes. But an O-1 is not a replacement for a green card, and the October 8 announcement does not change the O-1 eligibility requirements.
The O-1 is a temporary work visa for individuals who can demonstrate extraordinary ability or achievement under the applicable legal standard. It may be worth exploring for certain founders, researchers, executives, engineers, and other professionals with a strong record of accomplishments.
Other categories may also be relevant:
- EB-1A: A permanent-residence category for individuals who meet the extraordinary-ability standard.
- EB-2 NIW: May be available to qualifying professionals whose background and proposed work meet the national-interest-waiver requirements.
- L-1: May fit certain employees transferring from a qualifying foreign company to a related U.S. organization.
- E-2: May be relevant to eligible nationals of treaty countries who invest in and direct a qualifying U.S. business.
These options have different requirements and consequences. An O-1, for example, requires more than a strong résumé or an impressive job title. Eligibility depends on the evidence and the specific legal criteria. Likewise, a temporary work visa does not itself resolve a person’s long-term permanent-residence plan.
The goal is not to find a different visa at any cost. It is to understand which options are genuinely available and how each one fits your circumstances.
What if you are an international researcher or university employee?
The administration also announced investigations into nine universities concerning alleged misuse of the J-1 exchange-visitor program. J-1 status is used for designated exchange programs, including certain academic and research appointments.
An investigation does not, by itself, mean that every international researcher or student at a named university has lost status or eligibility. If you are concerned, determine whether your specific program, sponsor, or case is affected by a formal agency action, and whether you have received any notice requiring a response.
Immigration decisions deserve an individual strategy
When the rules change, it is understandable to want an immediate answer. But the most useful answer is one grounded in your actual circumstances, not a general prediction about what every foreign worker should do next.
That means reviewing your current status, the stage of any pending application, your qualifications, your employer’s role, and the immigration pathways that may realistically fit your goals. Because this announcement is new, affected individuals and employers should confirm the latest written agency guidance before making consequential decisions.
If you or someone you know is navigating U.S. immigration for work, a startup, or family, the Law Office of Zhang can help you explore your options. The firm works with O-1, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, L-1, E-2, marriage-based green cards, and other immigration matters.
Learn more at zlawglobal.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or establish an attorney-client relationship. Immigration eligibility and next steps depend on individual circumstances and the applicable law and agency guidance.
Sources for attorney review
- Reuters, October 8, 2026: U.S. suspending permanent residency program for Microsoft, Vance says
- Associated Press, October 8, 2026: The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a green card program, alleging fraud
- White House: Vice President JD Vance Holds Press Conference on Fighting Visa Fraud
- U.S. Department of Labor: Permanent Labor Certification
- USCIS: O-1 Visa: Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement