IBM is ending U.S. visa and green card sponsorship for most roles in its consulting division, narrowing a route that the company has used to fill positions requiring specialized skills. IBM confirmed the decision on November 10, saying the skills available to the company and the needs of its clients had changed.
The policy applies to IBM Consulting, the company’s largest division, which employs more than 150,000 people. An IBM spokesperson said the unit had used U.S. visa programs for highly skilled workers to address shortages and that its participation had declined for several years. IBM did not disclose how many employees would be affected or which positions would retain sponsorship.
Affected Workers Face a Year-End Decision
An internal document shared with consulting managers outlined two options for affected employees, according to Bloomberg. They could continue working for IBM outside the United States or leave the company by the end of the year. IBM has not publicly identified which overseas locations would be available to those workers.
The decision covers sponsorship for both work visas and permanent residency. Those processes serve different purposes. An H-1B petition allows an employer to hire a worker temporarily in a qualifying specialty occupation. Employer-sponsored green card applications can lead to permanent residency. The change therefore matters to job applicants who need a company to sponsor their U.S. employment as well as employees who rely on IBM’s support for a pending or future immigration filing.
IBM’s companywide H-1B approvals had already been falling. Federal records showed just over 1,600 approved petitions in fiscal 2026, down from more than 2,000 in fiscal 2025 and nearly 3,000 in fiscal 2024. Those totals cover IBM as a whole and can include extensions or amendments for existing employees. The figures show the direction of IBM’s visa use, while the number of workers affected in the consulting division remains undisclosed.
U.S. Scrutiny of Tech Hiring Intensifies
IBM’s decision comes amid closer scrutiny of employment-based immigration in the technology sector. In October, the Trump administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe and several technology services firms, including Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, from the federal Permanent Labor Certification program. Labor certification is a step in many employer-sponsored green card cases.
IBM attributed its own decision to changes in hiring and client demand. For candidates considering U.S. jobs in consulting, the practical question is which vacancies still qualify for sponsorship. The company has described the change at the division level, leaving that question open for individual positions. For affected employees, the internal document points to a decision by year-end, with continued employment at IBM tied to working outside the United States.
