US suspends Microsoft and Adobe from visa programme amid fraud claims

What the report says

The US government has suspended several major companies, including Microsoft and Adobe, from a visa programme that can lead to permanent residency for skilled foreign workers, according to Al Jazeera. The move was announced on Thursday by Vice President JD Vance, who framed it as part of a broader effort to push employers to hire more American workers and to investigate alleged abuse of the system.

Al Jazeera reported that Vance accused Microsoft of laying off American staff while still obtaining thousands of H-1B visas and green cards. The article said the Labor Department also named other technology firms, including Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, in the suspension. Officials said they uncovered $22bn in visa fraud, although the story did not detail how that figure was calculated.

The government’s action also extended to a separate probe involving J-1 visas and nine universities, among them MIT, Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Cal State. Officials alleged that some schools used international scholars and students in ways that could reduce wage costs for US workers. The White House did not provide data when asked to support claims about wage differences.

The announcement comes amid wider pressure on the tech industry over layoffs and hiring practices. Microsoft did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment, while the report said Adobe’s shares initially moved higher and Microsoft’s stock fell after the news.