Cognizant Green Card Filings have been suspended by the US Department of Labor amid an investigation into alleged fraud and misuse of employment visa programmes.
The action could create fresh uncertainty for foreign employees seeking permanent residency through the company.
The suspension concerns new PERM filings, an important step in the employment-based Green Card process.
The investigation is examining alleged issues involving the H-1B and PERM visa programmes, but authorities have not disclosed the full details of the allegations.
Cognizant Green Card Filings Put On Hold
US Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito announced the suspension involving Cognizant and said the investigation was being conducted in coordination with the White House Fraud Task Force and other officials.
The investigation is focused on facts, financial activity and possible fraud.
The suspension means Cognizant cannot submit new PERM applications while the investigation continues.
PERM, or Program Electronic Review Management, is the labour certification process employers generally complete before sponsoring eligible foreign workers for employment-based permanent residency.
What The Suspension Means For Indian Workers
The development is particularly significant for Indian technology professionals because Cognizant has been a major employer and sponsor of foreign workers in the US.
Employees who were waiting for the company to begin a new PERM process could now face delays or uncertainty over their Green Card plans.
However, the suspension of new PERM filings does not automatically mean that existing Green Cards have been cancelled or that Cognizant employees have lost their H-1B status.
The impact on an individual worker depends on the stage of their immigration case and any further action taken by US authorities.
Companies generally do not disclose how many employees are currently in the Green Card sponsorship process.
As a result, the exact number of Cognizant workers directly affected by the suspension is not publicly known.
Why Is Cognizant Under US Investigation
The action is part of a wider US investigation launched in July into alleged fraud involving H-1B and PERM employment visa programmes.
Cognizant and technology company Cloudera have both faced suspension of PERM filings as authorities investigate the allegations.
Cognizant was founded in Chennai in 1994 and is now headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Data cited by India Today showed that the company had received approvals for 3,510 H-1B visa petitions as of June 30, compared with 9,413 approvals in 2020.
The latest action also comes shortly after Cognizant announced plans to hire 1,500 US college graduates and expand its workforce in specific technology and business roles.
The company’s US immigration practices are therefore facing increased scrutiny at a time when it is also expanding its domestic hiring plans.
The investigation is still ongoing, and the final consequences for Cognizant and its employees will depend on its findings and any further action by US authorities.
Until then, workers with pending or planned employment-based immigration cases may face additional uncertainty.
