Microsoft barred from permanent residency visa program
The US bars Microsoft from sponsoring permanent residency for foreign workers. The reason: Microsoft laid off roughly 6,000 Americans. It employed 6,300 visa holders at the same time.
The Trump administration suspended Microsoft and Adobe from sponsoring permanent residency for foreign workers. Vice President JD Vance leads an anti-fraud team.
His team found Microsoft laid off roughly 6,000 workers last year. It employed 6,300 people on H-1B visas during this period.
Microsoft disputes this claim. It says 80% of its visa applications were to extend or change status for current employees.
These were not to hire new workers. The company also says it pays H-1B workers the same as American colleagues.
The ban stops new or pending requests for permanent residency from Microsoft, Adobe and several IT outsourcing firms. Vance said the companies can regain access by changing their hiring practices to focus on American workers.
- roughly 6,000
- American workers laid off
- 6,300
- H-1B visa holders employed
- 80%
- Applications for status extension
- Microsoft, Adobe, IT outsourcing firms
- Companies barred
Why it mattersThe move shows stricter enforcement of visa rules. Tech companies have relied on these rules for decades to fill skilled positions. This could reshape how they hire.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but Australian tech workers and companies that work with these firms may see changes to visa sponsorship and offshore hiring patterns.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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