In yet another blow for Indians aiming to settle abroad, US-based Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS) has made it more difficult for Indian employees to obtain green cards.
It made an official announcement stating that it will no longer be filing applications for green cards in the EB2 and EB3 categories until further notice.
According to a Times of India report, however, the IT firm will continue to sponsor existing applicants in the two categories.
An email sent to some employees read: “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.”
Mark Davies, managing partner at Davies & Associates, told the paper: “The EB1 route is typically used for senior management or professionals with extraordinary ability. EB2 and 3 visas are for skilled workers and professionals, mid- and lower level employees.”
Cognizant is ramping up its hiring in the US, recently recruiting over 1,000 technology and business professionals at its Tampa centre. The company had 261,200 employees in March and the majority of its workforce is based in India, Business Insider reported.