Times Now has published an opinion piece by Varun Singh, Founder and Managing Director of XIPHIAS Immigration, titled The American Dream On Hold. It appeared in the Opinion section on 9 October 2026, a day after the United States paused green card processing for some of the largest employers of Indian professionals.
This page sums up the main points of the article and what they mean in practice. You can read the full article on Times Now.
What the US Announced
On 8 October 2026, the US Department of Labor said it would not accept new PERM applications from, or process pending ones for, eight employers: Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant and Capgemini. No end date has been announced.
PERM (permanent labour certification) is the first step in most employer-sponsored green cards. In it, the employer shows that no suitable US worker is available for the role and that hiring a foreign professional will not harm local pay or conditions.
Why It Matters for Indian Professionals
Varun Singh begins with what America has stood for in many Indian families: ambition, recognition and a better future, not just a job abroad. Yet someone who has lived there for 10 or 15 years, built a career, bought a home and raised children can still be left unsure whether they will be allowed to stay.
The pause adds to a wait that is already long. Because of per-country limits, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin puts the India queue for the EB-2 and EB-3 categories at about 12 to 13 years.
He also makes an important distinction. The suspension can delay new and pending PERM cases at these employers, but it does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas or green cards that have already been approved. He notes that, for many families, not knowing what comes next is harder to live with than the paperwork.
Protect Jobs, but Do Not Penalise Genuine Talent
The piece does not argue against enforcement. Governments are entitled to look after their own workforce, and companies that abuse visa programmes should be investigated.
What it asks is that action against employers does not end up punishing the skilled workers who played by the rules. Indian talent has helped build American companies, hospitals and research, and in his view a fair and predictable system can do both: protect local jobs and keep attracting people from abroad.
His Advice: Do Not Panic, Prepare
His core advice is to "never make life-changing decisions based on fear or headlines." For Indian professionals working in the US, the first step is a calm review of their own position:
- How long their H-1B status remains valid
- The status of any PERM application
- Whether they hold an approved I-140 petition, and their priority date
- Which extension options are open to them
Professionals with exceptional achievements may also look at routes that do not need an employer's PERM, such as EB-1A for extraordinary ability or the EB-2 National Interest Waiver, where they are eligible.
Think Beyond One Country
The wider point is not to tie your whole career to the policy choices of a single country. Nations now compete for skilled people, founders, researchers and investors, and Varun Singh names Canada, Australia, the UAE and selected European countries as options worth looking at, each with its own rules.
Common starting points for Indian professionals include Canada Express Entry, the Australia Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the UK Global Talent visa and Germany's Opportunity Card.
For Indian professionals weighing the Gulf, the UAE offers long-term residence routes such as the UAE Golden Visa for specialised talent and company set-up with a free zone visa.
Having a second option is not the same as walking away from the US. It is insurance for your career and your family if the rules change again.
How XIPHIAS Can Help
XIPHIAS Immigration DMCC, one of the top immigration consultants in Dubai, is part of a group that has advised professionals, investors and families on global mobility since 2009. Our Dubai team can review your US status and timelines, check whether EB-1A or EB-2 NIW fits your profile, and map a second-country plan alongside your US goals.
Book a consultation or check your eligibility to get started.