Microsoft President Brad Smith Denies VP JD Vances Claims on H-1B Visa Misuse

Washington, October 16 (Daily Kiran) : Microsoft President Brad Smith has firmly denied allegations regarding the misuse of the H-1B visa program, claims made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. In a recent interview with Politico, Smith warned that blocking pathways for skilled foreign professionals seeking green cards could have long-lasting repercussions for the American tech industry.

Smith emphasized that most green card applications submitted by Microsoft are not for new hires but for long-serving employees. He noted, “Unfortunately, this is solely due to the lengthy waiting list for green cards.”

Addressing claims that Microsoft pays foreign workers less than their American counterparts, Smith asserted that compensation is consistent regardless of whether an employee is on a visa or a U.S. citizen. “We stand firmly by our record,” he stated, expressing hope that the White House would reassess the situation to understand the reality better.

This interview comes shortly after Vice President Vance announced that Microsoft and seven other companies would not be allowed to initiate green card processes for their skilled foreign workers. On October 8, the U.S. Department of Labor suspended the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) process for these eight companies, including major Indian IT firms like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services.

The PERM process is typically the first step for employers sponsoring green cards. Vance accused Microsoft of utilizing the H-1B program to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor. He insisted, “You are a great American company, but you should be hiring great American workers.”

Vance indicated that this ban would remain in effect as necessary. However, immigration experts noted that as of October 13, no detailed written order had been publicly released by the Labor Department clarifying the duration or scope of this suspension.

Smith also raised concerns about the timing of the suspension, which coincided with President Donald Trump awarding Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Nadella himself was once an H-1B visa holder.

He remarked, “On the day the President honored six individuals in science and technology, five of them were immigrants to the U.S.” Smith highlighted the significant contributions these individuals have made to the U.S. economy and society, urging against jeopardizing this progress.

He warned that if the U.S. sends signals that foreign talent is unwelcome, the best future AI and software engineers may choose to work in other countries instead, potentially harming America’s technological edge.