U.S. Labor Department halts Cognizant's new PERM visa applications amid fraud probe
The Department of Labor has suspended Cognizant's ability to submit fresh PERM labor certifications while it investigates alleged fraud in the company's H-1B and PERM visa programs.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that Cognizant’s new PERM labor certification filings are on hold pending the outcome of an investigation into alleged fraud within its H-1B and PERM visa programs, prompted by whistleblower complaints. Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito posted on X that threats to U.S. workers will not be tolerated, linking the effort to the White House Fraud Task Force. While the freeze stops future PERM submissions, it leaves previously approved certifications and current H-1B visas untouched.
Labor Department statistics reveal a sharp decline in Cognizant’s labor condition applications, dropping from 10,189 in 2018 to 3,436 in 2025. In a related development, USCIS disclosed that it had identified and revoked multiple H-1B petitions from a large IT consulting firm for underpaying wage levels, underscoring broader enforcement concerns. The action signals heightened scrutiny of immigration program misuse by technology service companies.
