The United States has barred Microsoft, Adobe, and several major IT companies from participating in the green card program for skilled foreign workers, according to a TechCrunch report.

The decision removes some of the country's best-known technology employers from a permanent-residency pathway that has historically allowed them to sponsor highly skilled foreign employees for green cards.

Who is affected?

The reported exclusion applies directly to:

• Microsoft
• Adobe
• Other major IT firms named by TechCrunch

Foreign workers currently sponsored by, or planning to seek sponsorship from, these companies through the skilled-worker green card program fall within the scope of the change.

What does the exclusion change?

The affected companies can no longer use the program to sponsor skilled foreign workers for lawful permanent residence. This shifts the burden onto affected employees to identify alternative routes, such as sponsorship through a different employer or an independent eligibility category, if one applies to their situation.

For workers already in the pipeline, the exclusion raises immediate questions about pending applications and continued sponsorship. Affected individuals should verify their case status with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency that administers employment-based green card processing.

Why does it matter?

Microsoft and Adobe rank among the largest sponsors of employment-based permanent residency in the American technology sector. Removing them from the program reduces the number of large-capacity sponsors available to skilled foreign workers and marks a notable shift in how the US channels high-skilled immigration.

The move also signals heightened scrutiny of major technology employers within the employment-based immigration system, a sector that has long relied on foreign talent to fill specialized roles.

What should affected workers do now?

Because individual circumstances vary, this article does not provide legal advice. Workers and employers should consult the official USCIS channels and, where necessary, a licensed immigration attorney to confirm how the exclusion applies to specific cases.

Passport File will continue to track the implementation of this change, including any official government confirmation, appeal processes, and the full list of affected companies, as further details emerge.