--- title: "White House Blocks Major Tech Firms from Hiring Skilled International Workers through H1b Visa Program" url: https://noti.group/white-house-blocks-major-tech-firms-from-hiring-skilled-international/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Technology" published: 2026-10-08T18:56:46.000Z updated: 2026-10-08T19:31:08.237Z id: aaaf5ca1-305e-4309-9777-89fb17882ec6 source: "BBC News Technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5yngl2y4gpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/white-house-blocks-major-tech-firms-from-hiring-skilled-international/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # White House Blocks Major Tech Firms from Hiring Skilled International Workers through H1b Visa Program The US government has blocked several major tech firms, including Microsoft and seven other companies, from hiring skilled international workers through a popular visa program due to allegations of widespread abuse and fraud. The White House has blocked several major technology firms from hiring skilled international workers through a popular visa program, citing allegations of widespread abuse and fraud. Vice President JD Vance accused Microsoft and seven other companies of exploiting the H1b visa system to replace American workers with foreign employees, labeling them "foreign indentured servants". The affected companies include Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini. This move is seen as a significant blow to these firms' recruitment strategies. According to Vance, no company has abused the system more than Microsoft, one of the most valuable in the US. He claimed that the company's reliance on international workers was effectively displacing American employees. The White House's decision to block new applications from these companies will undoubtedly impact their ability to hire skilled foreign talent. The move also targets companies like US universities, which Vice President Vance accused of turning into "visa mills by flooding the US with foreign workers through various programs. Secretary of Labor Kieth Sonderling echoed this sentiment, stating that such institutions are contributing to an influx of international workers in the country. The number of H1b visas issued per year is capped at 85,000, with applications for these visas being a precursor to going through the PERM process. Microsoft has disputed claims that it uses foreign workers to replace domestic employees and undercut their wages, despite laying off around 6,000 workers while filing 6,800 H1b visa applications over the same period. According to Microsoft's own figures, the vast majority of its US employees are American citizens, with a global workforce exceeding 200,000 people. The median salary for an H1b worker at Microsoft is reportedly $155,000, according to Ellis, a company that assists tech firms in hiring skilled foreign workers. This figure highlights the significant role these employees play in the company's workforce. Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella is set to receive a medal for technology innovation from President Donald Trump on Thursday. This visit to the White House marks one of several recent appearances by Nadella at administration events, including discussions on artificial intelligence and a state dinner for China's President Xi Jinping. The contrast between Microsoft's high-profile engagement with the White House and Vance's criticism is striking. The Administration's decision to block Microsoft from participating in a foreign worker hiring program has been met with strong words from Vance, who views it as a matter of principle rather than policy. Vance emphasized that his criticism stems from concerns about American workers being replaced by foreign employees on visas. He noted that if these workers are laid off or fired, they must leave the US, effectively making them indentured servants." The US government's proposal to eliminate a 60-day grace period for foreign workers has sparked concerns in the tech industry. This move would affect thousands of highly skilled professionals who are currently employed through programs like H1b visas and PERM. Major tech firms such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Apple, Nvidia, and others have long relied on these international worker programs to fill specialized positions that cannot be filled by domestic talent. The companies have been exempt from Vance's comments, suggesting that the proposal may not target all industries equally. The PERM program provides a pathway for foreign workers to become permanent US residents, often leading to Green Cards that grant them indefinite work and residency rights in the country. Last fiscal year saw over 130,000 PERM applications certified across ten business categories, highlighting the significant reliance on these programs by various sectors. --- Source: [BBC News Technology](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5yngl2y4gpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/white-house-blocks-major-tech-firms-from-hiring-skilled-international/