Microsoft Defends H-1B Hiring Practices Amid US Green Card Restrictions

Washington — Microsoft has defended its use of H-1B visas following the Trump administration’s decision to suspend the technology company’s participation in a key employment-based green card program, saying most of its visa applications involve existing employees rather than new hires.

The company said approximately 80% of the 6,000 H-1B applications it submitted during the last fiscal year were intended to extend or change the immigration status of employees already working for Microsoft.

The clarification follows the administration’s decision to suspend Microsoft from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program, which employers use to sponsor foreign workers for employment-based permanent residency.

“We believe in the strength and talent of the American workforce. That is why the vast majority of Microsoft employees in the United States are Americans,” the company said in a statement published on its corporate website.

Microsoft said the majority of its H-1B filings did not represent additional foreign hiring.

“These were not to hire new people,” the company said, referring to applications involving existing employees.

The remaining applications involved individuals already legally residing in the United States who had accepted positions with Microsoft. According to the company, those applications represented approximately 1% of its U.S. workforce.

“They are not new arrivals to our country,” Microsoft said.

The technology giant also rejected suggestions that it uses foreign workers to reduce labor costs or displace American employees.

“Microsoft only files H-1B petitions for those who meet the rigorous standards of this visa category,” the company said. “We pay our H-1B employees the same as any other employees doing comparable work.”

Microsoft maintained that its ability to compete globally depends on developing American talent while also recruiting highly skilled professionals from around the world.

The company said it intends to provide federal officials with additional information about its employment and immigration practices.

“We look forward to providing the Administration with additional information,” Microsoft said.

The dispute comes amid increased scrutiny of the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialized occupations, including technology, engineering and scientific fields.

The Trump administration has argued that stricter enforcement of employment-based immigration programs is necessary to prevent abuses and protect American workers.

Microsoft did not address the specific legal grounds for its suspension from the PERM program or indicate how long the restrictions might remain in effect. It also did not disclose how many employees could be affected by delays or disruptions to permanent residency applications.

The suspension affects the company’s ability to sponsor workers through the labor certification process but does not automatically invalidate existing H-1B visas or require current visa holders to leave the United States.

Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, the PERM program is generally a required step for employers sponsoring foreign workers under certain employment-based immigrant visa categories. (Source: IANS)