Cognizant’s US green-card filings suspended amid fraud probe: What it means for employees

Cognizant’s US green-card filings have been suspended amid an investigation into possible fraud and misuse of employment visa programmes, Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito of the US Department of Labor said on X.

The announcement could affect foreign employees whose employers are preparing or continuing their green-card sponsorship process through Cognizant. However, the post did not say how many employees or applications are affected.

What did the US official say?

D’Esposito said the action involved Labor Department official Keith Sonderling, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the White House Fraud Task Force.


“Fighting fraud is a TEAM SPORT. @Sonderling47 and I are for real. @Cognizant’s PERM filings are suspended. @DOLOIG is on the hunt. Threats to American workers will NOT be tolerated. Alongside @WHFraudTF, we’re following facts, fraud and finances. Handcuffs await,” he wrote.

PERM, or Permanent Labour Certification, is a step that companies generally complete when sponsoring foreign employees for employment-based green cards. It requires an employer to show that hiring a foreign worker will not harm American workers.

What does the suspension mean?

The suspension means Cognizant may not be able to submit new green-card labour certification filings while the investigation continues.

Employees whose cases depend on a new filing could face delays. The impact will depend on the stage of each employee’s case and on any further instructions issued by US authorities.

The post does not say that existing visa approvals, green-card approvals or employee immigration status have been cancelled. It also does not say that all Cognizant employees with pending applications will lose their cases.

What is not known?

D’Esposito’s post did not provide details about the allegations against Cognizant. It did not state how many filings were suspended or how long the measure would remain in place.

The post also did not announce criminal charges or a final finding of wrongdoing. The wording indicates that the authorities are investigating possible fraud and alleged harm to American workers.

The next steps will depend on the findings of the Labor Department’s investigation and any further action announced by the US government.

Why is the US tightening H-1B checks?

The Cognizant action is part of a wider US investigation into alleged fraud and abuse in the H-1B and green-card sponsorship systems.

The Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General launched the investigation in July 2026 with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Authorities said they were examining false visa applications, wage kickbacks, unpaid “benching” of workers, fraudulent recruitment and the exploitation of foreign employees. The investigation also covers claims that companies used below-market wages in ways that disadvantaged American workers.

The probe has since included on-site checks. In August, the Inspector General said investigators visited locations linked to hundreds of approved H-1B petitions in Dallas. Officials said several offices appeared inactive, with locked doors, switched-off lights and little evidence of business operations.

The Justice Department has also increased enforcement against employers accused of excluding US workers while recruiting people on temporary visas. In April, it sued technology company Cloudera, alleging that the company created a recruitment process that discouraged US workers from applying for jobs later linked to green-card sponsorship.

In August, the Justice Department announced a $3.2 million settlement with OpenAI over allegations that it preferred temporary visa holders and discouraged US workers from applying for certain jobs.

These cases do not establish that Cognizant committed similar violations. The company’s suspension was announced while the Labor Department investigation is continuing, and officials have not disclosed the specific allegations against it.