In a move that could dent the aspirations of Indian techies hoping for permanent residency and better long-term opportunities in the US, Cognizant Technology Solutions has said that it will no longer be filing fresh applications for green cards under the EB2 and EB3 categories until further notice.
The move comes as a setback for H1B visa holders who were hoping for a green card.
In an email to employees, Cognizant said: “As part of our strategic business goals, we continue to assess the benefits and efficiency of our internal programs which are evolving to align with our long term objectives. As part of this, we will no longer be filing green card PERM (EB2 and EB3 applications) until further notice.”
The company said that it will continue to provide support to existing applicants but will not file fresh applications. EB2 and 3 visas are for skilled workers and professionals, mid and lower level employees.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, EB2 immigrant visa category is for professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.
An individual is eligible for EB3 visas if they're skilled workers, requiring a minimum of 2 years training or work experience. A professional worker requires at least a US baccalaureate degree or a foreign equivalent.
The move by the IT firm signals its intent to hire more Americans, as the Trump administration goes on and about reforms into its existing work visa rules. This was something that was evident with the company hiring over 1,000 technology and business professionals in its Tampa centre.
It has also expanded its retraining programmes and are working with local institutions to implement special curricula that will help meet growing client needs. Last year, it hired 4,000 US citizens and residents.
On the other hand, the IT firm is said to be eying as many as 6,000 layoffs or roughly 2-3 per cent of its workforce in India this year. Though the firm has maintained that there was nothing extraordinary about it and that these were based on regular performance audits that it carries out annually, the company’s decision to hand out VRS to some of its top executives last month told a different story.
Cognizant announced a voluntary separation programme for top executives in India, including directors, associate VPs and senior VPs. Some 1,000 executives are expected to go as part of its 6,000 estimated layoffs.
