Microsoft banned from sponsoring foreign workers for US residency - Financial Times

The United States government has prohibited Microsoft from sponsoring foreign workers for U.S. permanent residency, a restriction that will affect the company’s ability to file employment‑based green‑card petitions for its international employees.

U.S. immigration officials allege that Microsoft violated immigration rules by improperly using the sponsorship program, asserting that the company engaged in practices that exceeded the permissible scope of the employment‑based immigration system. The enforcement action cites concerns that the firm may have prioritized certain categories of workers or otherwise manipulated the process to its advantage.

Microsoft has denied the allegations, stating that it complied with all applicable immigration laws and that the government’s claim is unfounded. The company’s spokesperson emphasized that Microsoft’s immigration practices are designed to attract talent while adhering to regulatory requirements, and that it will contest the ban.

The prohibition could have immediate operational impacts, as Microsoft will be unable to initiate new green‑card applications for foreign employees until the matter is resolved. Existing petitions remain unaffected, but the restriction may influence hiring decisions and the company’s broader talent‑acquisition strategy in the United States.

The dispute is expected to proceed through administrative and possibly judicial channels, with both parties preparing to present evidence supporting their positions. The outcome will determine whether the ban is lifted, modified, or upheld, and could set precedent for how large technology firms manage immigration sponsorship in the future.