During his visit to New Delhi in October 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the recent alterations to US work visa regulations. Rubio stated the changes are not directed specifically at India but are global measures designed to prioritize American workers and national interests under the Trump administration. He clarified, “It’s not one that’s built on India. It’s not one that’s focused on India…It happens to impact Indians that want to come to the United States and work and that our businesses are trying to bring in, but it’s not geared towards India. It is global.”
Suspension of Major IT and Tech Companies from Permanent Labour Certification Program
On October
9, 2026, the US Government suspended several large IT outsourcing firms including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini from the Permanent Labour Certification (Green Card) Program. Microsoft and Adobe were also suspended from the program. The US Department of Labor linked these suspensions to ongoing federal investigations targeting visa-related fraud and misuse within these companies. The affected firms had collectively applied for millions of foreign workers and received hundreds of thousands of H-1B visa approvals and permanent labour certifications.
Visa Rule Changes Addressing Fraud, Proposed OPT Fee Adjustments
Rubio described the US immigration system as “broken,” citing widespread fraud and abuse in business-related immigration initiatives, which the new
policies aim to address. Concurrently, the US Department of Homeland Security proposed new fees for F-1 non-immigrant students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT), signaling additional measures to protect American workers and preserve immigration system integrity. These steps form part of a broader strategy to tighten control over work visa eligibility and program misuse.
Implications for Foreign Workers and Reactions from India
The visa rule changes and fee revisions may impact foreign nationals seeking employment or practical training opportunities in the United States. The suspension of major IT companies from the Permanent Labour Certification Program could restrict their ability to sponsor foreign workers under these visas. India has
emphasized that the mobility of skilled professionals benefits both countries through innovation, research, and job creation, and has expressed concerns that recent US measures do not align with these shared objectives. Rubio stated, “I expect that the government of India will always put the people of India first and that you will always put the national interest of India first…But I also hope everyone understands that the United States under President Trump is going to put our people first, our workers first and our country first.”
