US Halts Microsoft, Adobe Green Card Program Amid Visa Fraud Probe

The United States government announced today that it has suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and several other large information technology companies from participating in a program that allows foreign technical talent to obtain permanent residency. The move stems from the findings of investigations into these corporations for alleged abuse of the work visa system and fraudulent activities. According to reports from the Central News Agency, the relevant investigations indicated that some companies provided false or misleading information during the application process and made untruthful representations regarding conditions such as compensation and job duties in order to secure permanent residency qualifications for foreign employees. The Office of Immigration Policy within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security emphasized in its announcement that this decision is intended to uphold the fairness and integrity of the immigration system, and called upon the affected enterprises to promptly rectify issues and cooperate with further reviews.

This program was originally launched in 2019 to address the U.S. technology industry's demand for highly skilled foreign talent. The initiative allows companies to apply for green cards for foreign technical workers under the EB-2 or EB-3 categories while providing a more streamlined approval process. Enterprises must prove that the positions they offer meet U.S. labor market demands and that wage levels meet or exceed the national U.S. average. This measure has been regarded as a supplement to the H-1B work visa system and viewed by the industry as an essential tool for attracting top global talent.

Investigations revealed that branch offices of Microsoft and Adobe in multiple states were found to have submitted false job descriptions and, in some cases, paid foreign employees actual wages lower than the declared amounts. Joining forces, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Justice discovered that these enterprises used forged supporting documents in application files and cooperated with certain recruitment intermediaries to conceal the true circumstances. The investigative report noted that these actions not only violated U.S. immigration law but may also constitute fraud, negatively impacting national security and economic fairness.

For the affected companies, this suspension will directly impact their human resources planning. Microsoft and Adobe employ thousands of technical personnel globally, and many critical projects already rely on foreign professionals. The suspension from participating in the program means these companies cannot apply for green cards for newly hired foreign employees in the short term, potentially leading to brain drain or increased recruitment costs. Company executives have stated they will accelerate internal compliance reviews and work with legal teams to ensure future application processes comply with U.S. legal regulations.

More broadly, this decision highlights the U.S. zero-tolerance stance toward the abuse of immigration systems. The technology sector has long relied on foreign highly skilled labor, and recent policy shifts may cause companies to reassess their reliance on foreign talent. If other companies face restrictions due to similar issues, global confidence in the United States as a hub for technological innovation could be challenged. On the other hand, this move may also prompt the U.S. government, when revising immigration laws in the future, to place greater emphasis on vetting mechanisms and transparency, and to consider introducing stricter oversight measures to prevent similar abuses from recurring.

In summary, the U.S. suspension of major information technology companies such as Microsoft and Adobe from participating in the foreign worker green card program is both a response to suspected visa system abuses and fraudulent activities, and a reflection of the U.S. commitment to the fairness of the immigration system.