IBM has ended US visa and green card sponsorship for a majority of roles within its consulting division, leaving affected employees with the option of continuing their employment from outside the US or leaving the company by the end of 2026.
The decision affects IBM Consulting, which employs more than 1.5 lakh people globally, and comes amid tighter scrutiny of foreign-worker hiring and immigration policies in the US.
According to Reuters, IBM’s use of high-skilled visa programmes to address talent shortages has been declining for several years. A company spokesperson spokesperson said the decision to withdraw sponsorship for most consulting roles reflected changes in skill availability and client requirements.
Employees affected by the change can explore opportunities to continue working for IBM from locations outside the US. Those unable to make the transition will have to leave the organisation by the end of the year, according to a Bloomberg report citing an internal company document.
The development comes as the US administration tightens scrutiny of employment-based immigration. Last month, Microsoft, Adobe and major IT services companies, including Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, were suspended from the Permanent Labour Certification process, an important step towards securing employment-based green cards for foreign workers.
The restrictions follow the US government’s announcement of a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions last year, adding to the costs and uncertainty associated with hiring foreign professionals.
IBM’s decision could also have implications for the location of technology work currently performed by employees in the US. Some affected roles may potentially move to global delivery centres, including India, although the company has not announced any specific workforce transfer or relocation plan.
