IBM Ends Visa, Green Card Sponsorship for Most Roles in Its Biggest Unit
IBM will stop sponsoring work visas and green cards for most roles in IBM Consulting, its largest business unit, as the Trump administration ramps up scrutiny of foreign worker programs. The change affects employees in the company's U.S.-based consulting division, including H-1B visa holders.
IBM has not said how many workers will be affected.
What IBM Is Changing
IBM will no longer sponsor visas and green cards for "the majority of such roles" in IBM Consulting, a company spokesperson said, according to Yahoo Finance. Bloomberg first reported the news.
The spokesperson said IBM's participation in U.S. high-skilled visa programs "has been declining for a number of years."
IBM Consulting employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and makes up a large share of the company's business. According to media reports, IBM pointed to changing client needs and the availability of local talent as reasons for the shift.
What It Means for Affected Workers
Employees affected by the change have until the end of 2026 to decide their next steps, The Federal reported, citing an internal memo.
They can move to an IBM role outside the United States or leave the company. Those who want to keep working in the U.S. would need to find another employer willing to sponsor them and transfer their visas.
Some key questions remain unanswered. IBM has not said which roles will still qualify for sponsorship, and it did not respond when Newsweek asked whether current H-1B holders are affected, according to Immigration Analytics.
Workers on H-1B visas who lose their jobs generally have a grace period of up to 60 days to find a new sponsor, change their status or leave the country.
IBM's Shrinking Visa Use
Federal records show IBM's reliance on H-1B visas has already been falling. The company had just over 1,600 H-1B petitions approved in fiscal year 2026, down from about 2,045 in 2025 and nearly 3,000 in 2024.
Those figures cover IBM as a whole, not just its consulting unit, and may include extensions and amendments to existing visas in addition to new hires.
Looking only at approvals for new H-1B employment, the drop is even sharper. Those approvals fell from 1,348 in fiscal year 2024 to 501 in fiscal year 2025, a decline of about 63%, according to federal data.
The H-1B program allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields such as technology and engineering. Supporters say it helps companies fill hard-to-find skills, while critics argue it can be used to undercut American workers' wages.
The Trump Administration's Crackdown
IBM's decision comes as the Trump administration tightens rules around foreign workers. In September 2025, President Donald Trump introduced a $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B applications, a move that is now tied up in the courts.
The administration has also proposed changing the H-1B selection process to favor higher-paid applicants. Earlier this year, it announced a major change to the green card process.
In October, the Department of Labor reportedly suspended eight companies from PERM, the program that serves as the first step for most employment-based green cards. The suspensions included Microsoft, Adobe, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant and Capgemini.
Vice President JD Vance said Microsoft was suspended over alleged abuse of the process. Microsoft and Adobe reportedly faced investigations into their hiring and layoff practices, while the IT services firms were accused of undercutting wages and displacing American workers.
A Wider Pullback in Tech
IBM's move is part of a broader pullback in foreign hiring across the tech industry, as several employers reportedly reassess whether to hire workers who need visa sponsorship.
Scrutiny has also reached other companies. Last month, Instacart agreed to pay $5 million over claims it favored visa holders in hiring.
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