80 per cent H1-B applications for existing employees: Microsoft

Washington: Microsoft has defended its use of H-1B visas, saying 80 per cent of the approximately 6,000 applications it submitted last fiscal year were intended to extend or change the immigration status of existing employees, rather than recruit new workers.

The statement came after the Trump administration suspended the company’s participation in the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme, an initial step towards obtaining employment-based green cards for foreign workers.

“We believe in the strength and talent of the American workforce. That is why the vast majority of Microsoft employees in the US are Americans. We look forward to providing the administration with additional information,” the company said.

“Of the approximately 6,000 H-1B visa applications we submitted in the last fiscal year, 80 per cent were to extend or change the status of existing Microsoft employees.