IT major Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS) likely to stop applying green cards for its employees under EB2 and EB3 routes. In a major decision, giving up the employees hopes of getting permanent residence in the US, the Cognizant chooses to halt the fresh filing of applications for green cards under EB2 and EB3 routes until further notice.

Any H1-B visa holder who is going for permanent residency need to go through the process of green card filed by the company. A company provides its H1-B employees with Employment Based (EB) permanent residency through EB1, EB2 and EB3 routes.

Cognizant said, “As part of our strategic business goals, we continue to assess the benefits and efficiency of our internal programs which are evolving to align with our long-term objectives. As part of this, we will no longer be filing green card PERM (EB2 and EB3 applications) until further notice,” in an email to some of its employees.

A US Immigration Lawyer said that, basically, the EB1 route offers permanent residence for individuals like outstanding professor or researcher, or any senior management or professionals with extraordinary ability. While EB2 and EB3 visas are for skilled workers and professionals, mid and lower level employees, respectively.

Cognizant already hired 4,000 US citizens and residents for its US delivery centers, a similar move also by its counterparts like Infosys.