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US government data shows, only two Indian companies —Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys— figure in a list of the top ten applicants for employer green cards in the six months to March 2019.

According to the US Department of Labor data, companies such as Amazon, Cognizant, Cisco, Facebook and Google have together filed more green card applications, or those seeking talented immigrants with permanent residency to work in their offices in the United States.

Amazon has filed 1,500 applications, the largest among the ten companies. Cognizant Technology Services, a US-headquartered IT services firm that has a large employee base in India, is second with more than 1,300 employer green card applications, followed by Cisco. TCS, with 1,009 applications comes fourth on that list, while Infosys is in seventh position, according to the data. It is as yet unclear how many of these applications will convert into permanent residency permits.

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), said the data supports its contention that there is a shortage of skilled talent in the US and that American companies are hiring people from where it is available the most —India. “While it is a company’s decision on how it wants to recruit and retain talent, this is a reflection of the talent shortage with low unemployment rates and an increased demand for digital skills,” said Shivendra Singh, vice-president of the global trade department at Nasscom.

US grants H-1B visas to highly skilled people for a period of three years. This can be extended for a similar term. Most workers apply for a green card or permanent resident status towards the end of their H-1B visa tenure.

The application enables them to stay and work in the US legally while it is in process.

Companies are required to pay for a worker’s H-1B visa application, but the responsibility for a green card rests with the individual. However, many companies apply for an I-140 or Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker to retain a highly valued or skilled resource.

 

 

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