Washington, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : Microsoft has come forward to defend its use of the H-1B visa program, revealing that approximately 80% of its nearly 6,000 applications submitted last fiscal year were for current employees. This statement comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s suspension of the company’s ability to sponsor foreign workers through a key employment-based green card program.
The tech giant emphasized that its H-1B applications were primarily aimed at adjusting or changing the immigration status of employees already working within the company. In a statement posted on its website, Microsoft expressed confidence in the strength and talent of the American workforce, noting that most of its employees in the U.S. are American citizens.
Microsoft also indicated its willingness to provide additional information to the administration regarding its hiring processes. The company clarified that the H-1B applications submitted were not intended for new hires. Instead, they included individuals already legally present in the U.S. who decided to join Microsoft. This group represented only 1% of Microsoft’s American workforce.
Furthermore, Microsoft defended its salary policies against claims that H-1B employees are used to undercut American wages. The company stated, “Microsoft only files H-1B petitions for individuals who meet the stringent criteria of this visa category.” It also assured that H-1B employees receive salaries comparable to their peers performing similar work.
The company’s response comes amid increasing scrutiny of the H-1B program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialized fields. The administration argues that stricter enforcement is needed to prevent abuse of employment-based immigration programs and to protect American workers.
However, Microsoft’s statement did not specify the legal grounds for the suspension of the PERM program, nor did it clarify how long the restrictions might remain in effect. Additionally, the company did not disclose the number of employees whose pending or future permanent residency applications could be impacted.
This suspension relates to the employer’s ability to utilize the labor certification process but does not cancel existing H-1B visas or require employees to leave the U.S. The PERM program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and is typically required for employers seeking certain employment-based immigrant visas for foreign workers.
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