The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, issued an official statement on October 9, 2026, addressing the United States Department of Labour’s recent decision to suspend the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme for certain companies.
The statement seeks to clarify the distinction between temporary work visas and permanent residency pathways while sharply criticising recent comments made by the U.S. Vice President regarding Indian workers.
Clarification on H-1B Status vs. PERM Program
In its official release, the MEA emphasised that the PERM process is distinct from the H-1B visa programme. It reassured professionals that the suspension of PERM applications does not, by itself, affect the validity of current H-1B visas or the legal status of visa holders and their dependents.
However, the ministry acknowledged that the decision could create hurdles for eligible employees of affected companies regarding their permanent residency and Green Card processing timelines.
Mutual Value of Talent Mobility
Highlighting the economic symbiosis between the two nations, India stressed that skilled talent mobility adds significant value to both economies.
While it opens global opportunities for Indian talent, it simultaneously provides American companies with high-calibre skills necessary for innovation, research, productivity, and job creation, ultimately driving shareholder wealth in the U.S. The MEA noted that the recent steps taken by the U.S. labour authority do not align with the shared economic ambitions of both countries.
Rejection of Offensive Terminology
The ministry also firmly addressed recent comments made in this context by the U.S. Vice President, calling the descriptions “unwarranted”. The statement pointed out that such rhetoric ignores the vital contributions of highly educated Indian professionals to the American economy and innovation ecosystem.
“The history of the United States itself has been shaped by generations of immigrants whose labour, enterprise and innovation have contributed to its growth and prosperity,” the official statement read, adding that resorting to language carrying “painful historical and colonial legacy connotations is deeply offensive.
The Ministry of External Affairs concluded by affirming that it will continue to closely monitor developments surrounding this issue.
