A Kumar who serves as a technical director in a large company expressed his concern that more companies might follow the approach of IBM.
He is one of the several holders of a technology visa who informed Business Insider. These individuals stated that the uncertainty of immigration policies and concerns about job security are affecting their career decisions and long-term plans. Some are worried about whether they will be able to stay in the United States or find new jobs; others are still focused on the opportunities available to them.
The decision by IBM comes amidst a series of changes affecting foreign technology employees. In October, the Trump administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and six other large IT service companies from participating in the Permanent Labor Certification (Permanent Labor Certification) program. This program is a key step in the green card process based on employment. This move prevents these companies from submitting new applications or advancing those that are not yet completed.
The government stated that this move is aimed at preventing companies from abusing the program to favor foreign employees over American ones. The government also attempted to impose a fee of $100,000 on new H-1B visas, but a federal court has stopped this measure.
"Everyone is worried about their own future," he said.
"You can get everything right."
A Microsoft employee is preparing for her last time to participate in the H-1B visa lottery, but she is already starting to worry about what will happen next.
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This employee said that she initially ignored the Instagram short videos sent to her by her friends, which mentioned a suspension in PERM in October. It wasn't until she actually watched one of these videos later on that she was shocked to discover that Microsoft was also among the affected companies.
Even if she is selected in the lottery, she is still worried that the suspension of PERM will create another obstacle for those who obtain a green card and intend to stay in the United States for a long time.
"You can do everything right and build a career in a company like Microsoft, but you still won't feel secure about your future there," she said. Microsoft has raised objections to government allegations of abuse of its visa system.
For some foreign technology employees, this uncertainty has gone beyond the professional level. A technology employee holding a F-1 STEM OPT visa said that since he doesn't know how much longer he can stay in the United States, he has postponed buying a car. He also mentioned that there is a possibility he might move to other countries such as Canada or the United Kingdom.
"My friends are indeed very panicked and becoming increasingly anxious," he said.
Different reactions to the uncertainty of immigration
Not all foreign technology employees are equally concerned about their immigration prospects. Some point out that the PERM suspension currently only affects a few companies. An employee of a large technology company with a visa said that he is not too worried, as he does not have any long-term immigration plans in the United States.
Some people also try to completely avoid paying attention to immigration news.
“It’s too exhausting to keep following all these news updates, so I try to stay away from it as much as possible,” said someone holding a tech visa.
For Product Manager Aman Goyal who holds a H-1B visa, this uncertainty did not overshadow the opportunities he saw in the United States.
Goyal came to the United States in 2023. After being laid off last year, he considered looking for a job overseas, but ultimately found a new job in the Seattle area. He said that when thinking about his long-term future in the United States, visa issues are still a concern for him, but he hopes to make the most of his time in the U.S. as much as possible.
"Of course, I hope to continue staying here, to meet as many people as possible and build networks, while also learning as much as I can about the next phase of AI," he said.
