IBM has decided to discontinue US visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of positions within its IBM Consulting division, a move that could affect foreign professionals working in the company’s largest business unit. The decision, announced on November 10, 2026, comes as the Trump administration increases scrutiny of employment-based immigration programmes and technology companies hiring foreign workers. Employees affected by the policy have reportedly been given two options: continue working for IBM from outside the United States or leave the company by the end of 2026.
The development is particularly significant for Indian technology professionals because IBM employs a large international workforce and its consulting business operates across multiple countries. However, IBM has not disclosed how many employees will be affected or identified the specific positions that may remain eligible for sponsorship. The company says the decision reflects changing business requirements, declining reliance on high-skilled visa programmes and greater availability of relevant skills in the US workforce.
IBM Ends Visa Sponsorship for Most Consulting Positions
IBM confirmed that it would stop sponsoring US visas and green cards for most roles within IBM Consulting.
The division employs more than 150,000 people, making it the company’s largest business unit.
According to an internal document seen by Bloomberg and shared with managers, affected employees can continue working for IBM from outside the United States or leave the company by the end of the year.
The policy covers sponsorship for high-skilled employment visas and the green card process for most consulting positions.
IBM has not publicly specified how many workers will be affected, which job categories will be exempt or whether any existing sponsorship arrangements will receive special treatment.
The company also has not indicated that all foreign employees in its consulting division will lose their jobs. The reported options involve relocation outside the US or departure from IBM.
Why Is IBM Ending H-1B and Green Card Sponsorship?
IBM says the decision is driven by changing workforce requirements rather than a sudden change in its overall approach to international hiring.
A company spokesperson told Reuters that IBM Consulting participates in US high-skilled visa programmes to address skill shortages.
However, participation has been declining for several years as the availability of skills and client requirements have evolved.
The company said these changes led it to discontinue sponsorship for the majority of positions in the division.
Federal immigration records also show a decline in IBM’s H-1B petition approvals.
| Financial year | IBM H-1B petitions approved |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | Nearly 3,000 |
| FY2025 | More than 2,000 |
| FY2026 | Just over 1,600 |
These figures cover IBM as a whole, not just its consulting division, and include different types of petitions. They therefore do not establish how many consulting employees will be affected by the latest policy.
The decline nevertheless illustrates that IBM has been reducing its reliance on the H-1B programme.
What Happens to IBM Employees Already Working on H-1B Visas?
The decision creates uncertainty for foreign professionals who depend on employer sponsorship to maintain their immigration status or pursue permanent residency in the United States.
Under the reported arrangements, affected employees can continue working for IBM from another country or leave the company by the end of 2026.
For employees currently on H-1B visas, the implications will depend on their individual immigration circumstances.
An H-1B visa is generally granted for an initial period of up to three years and can usually be extended for another three years, subject to applicable rules.
Employees who leave IBM may need to find another employer willing and eligible to sponsor them. Their options will depend on their current status, remaining authorized stay and other immigration requirements.
Green card applicants face a separate challenge because employer-sponsored permanent residency involves multiple stages, including labour certification in many cases.
IBM has not publicly clarified how the policy will affect every pending green card application or existing sponsorship arrangement.
Affected employees should therefore obtain advice from qualified US immigration professionals rather than assuming that every case will have the same outcome.
Trump’s Immigration Policies Are Increasing Pressure on Technology Companies
IBM’s decision comes amid a broader tightening of US employment-based immigration policies.
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump’s administration has introduced or pursued measures intended to increase scrutiny of foreign-worker hiring and encourage companies to recruit more American employees.
One major development involved a proposed one-time $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B petitions announced in September 2025. The measure has faced legal challenges.
The administration has also proposed changes to the H-1B selection process that would give greater priority to higher-paid positions.
In October 2026, the US Department of Labor suspended several major technology companies and outsourcing firms from participating in the Permanent Labor Certification process, commonly known as PERM.
The companies named in reports included:
- Microsoft
- Adobe
- Cognizant
- Infosys
- Tata Consultancy Services
- Wipro
- HCL Technologies
- Capgemini
PERM is an important stage in many employer-sponsored green card applications. A suspension can restrict a company’s ability to begin or continue certain permanent-residency sponsorship processes.
IBM’s decision is separate from those government actions. The company has not been publicly identified as one of the firms suspended from the PERM process in the October action.
Why the Development Matters for Indian IT Professionals
The policy could have implications for Indian technology workers employed in IBM’s US consulting business.
India is an important source of skilled technology professionals working in the United States, particularly in software engineering, consulting, cloud computing and enterprise technology services.
H-1B sponsorship has historically provided an employment pathway for professionals with specialized skills to work for US companies.
Green card sponsorship is also important because it can provide a route to permanent residency.
IBM’s decision could make the United States a less predictable long-term career destination for some employees in the affected consulting roles.
Professionals may need to consider opportunities in other countries, seek employers with continuing sponsorship programmes or explore internal transfers outside the United States.
However, the actual impact will depend on the number of affected employees, their immigration status and the availability of alternative employment.
It is also important to note that IBM’s announcement does not amount to a blanket ban on hiring foreign professionals across every part of the company.
IBM Consulting Has Been Struggling to Maintain Growth
The immigration policy change also comes at a time when IBM’s consulting division has been growing more slowly than other parts of the company.
IBM has increasingly positioned itself as a software-focused technology business through acquisitions including Red Hat, HashiCorp and Confluent.
Its consulting operations, meanwhile, have faced relatively weak growth.
According to Bloomberg reporting, the division’s growth has remained largely flat since 2024.
IBM Consulting generated approximately $5.3 billion in revenue during the third quarter of 2026, unchanged from the same period a year earlier and up 2% at constant currency.
This business performance provides additional context for the company’s decision to reassess workforce requirements and staffing costs.
However, IBM has not directly attributed the sponsorship policy change to its consulting division’s revenue performance. Its official explanation focuses on changing skill availability and client needs.
What This Means for the Global Technology Hiring Market
IBM’s decision could become another important development in the changing relationship between US technology companies and international talent.
Technology businesses have traditionally relied on skilled foreign professionals to fill positions in software development, consulting, engineering and specialized technical services.
However, tighter immigration rules, higher visa-related costs and additional compliance requirements are encouraging companies to reconsider their hiring strategies.
Some businesses may increase recruitment of US-based professionals, while others could expand their delivery operations in countries such as India, Canada and the United Kingdom.
For Indian IT services companies, the changing environment could create both opportunities and challenges.
Demand for offshore technology services may increase if companies shift more work outside the United States. At the same time, restrictions on permanent-residency sponsorship could complicate international staffing and employee mobility.
The Bigger Picture
IBM’s decision reflects a wider transformation in the US technology labour market, where companies are reassessing their dependence on employer-sponsored immigration programmes. The move affects more than a hiring policy because visa sponsorship and green card support are important considerations for international professionals planning long-term careers in the United States.
The development also highlights the difference between immigration policy changes imposed by governments and workforce decisions made independently by companies. IBM says its decision is based on changing skill availability and client requirements, while the wider political environment is increasing scrutiny of foreign hiring. Both factors are shaping the future of international technology employment.
Looking Ahead
The immediate priority for affected IBM employees will be understanding their individual immigration options before the reported year-end deadline. IBM may face questions about which consulting roles remain eligible for sponsorship and how it will handle existing applications. Further clarification from the company will be important for employees making decisions about relocation, alternative employment and permanent residency.
For the broader technology industry, IBM’s decision could encourage other companies to review their visa sponsorship policies and international workforce strategies. Indian professionals seeking US technology jobs may increasingly need to evaluate employers’ immigration policies alongside salaries and career opportunities. The longer-term impact will depend on how US immigration regulations evolve and how technology companies balance domestic recruitment with access to international talent.
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