New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- Responding to the US Government's move to bar several Tech majors from its Green Card programme, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said, "PERM applications does not affect H-1B visa holders" and "the steps announced by the US do not advance the shared ambitions of both countries."

"We are aware of the U.S. Department of Labour's decision concerning the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme for certain companies. It should be noted that PERM is distinct from the H-1B visa programme. The suspension of PERM applications does not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of H-1B visa holders and their dependents, though there could be some impact on the permanent-residency/Gr...