IBM is ending visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of positions in its U.S. consulting division, a move that could force foreign workers currently employed in the country to relocate abroad or leave the company by the end of 2026.
The decision affects IBM Consulting, the company’s largest division, which employs more than 150,000 people. Although IBM has not disclosed how many employees will be affected, the policy marks another significant shift in how major American technology companies approach hiring foreign professionals.
According to a company document reviewed by Bloomberg News, affected employees will have the option of continuing their jobs from outside the United States or leaving IBM by the end of the year. The company has not clarified which positions, if any, will remain eligible for visa or green card sponsorship.
IBM confirmed the decision to Reuters on Tuesday, saying its participation in U.S. high-skilled visa programs had been declining for several years.
READ: ‘Isn’t four weeks too long?’: Indian applicant reveals B1/B2 visa interview experience (July 31, 2026)
“IBM Consulting participates in U.S. high-skilled visa programs to address skill shortages,” an IBM spokesperson stated in a statement. “That participation has been declining for a number of years and as skill availability and client need have evolved, we have opted to discontinue visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of such roles in IBM Consulting.”
The announcement comes as the Trump administration intensifies its scrutiny of foreign workers in the American technology industry. The administration has repeatedly called on U.S. companies to prioritize American workers and reduce their dependence on overseas talent.
Last month, the administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe and several major technology outsourcing companies, including Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, from the Permanent Labor Certification process, commonly known as PERM.
PERM is an important step in the employment-based green card process. Employers generally need to demonstrate that there are not enough qualified, available U.S. workers for a particular position and that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of American employees.
The suspension raised concerns across the technology sector, particularly among foreign professionals pursuing permanent residency in the United States.
IBM’s decision also comes against the backdrop of wider changes to the H-1B visa program. In September 2025, the White House announced a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions, a measure that has since faced legal challenges. The administration has also proposed changes to the annual H-1B selection system that would give greater preference to employers offering higher salaries.
Federal immigration records indicate that IBM’s use of H-1B visas has also declined. The company received approval for just over 1,600 H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2026, compared with more than 2,000 in FY2025 and nearly 3,000 in FY2024. These figures cover IBM’s overall workforce and include petitions for existing employees, such as extensions and amendments, rather than only new hires.
IBM employed 264,300 people worldwide, including workers at its wholly owned subsidiaries, according to its 2025 annual report.
READ: Over 12,000 Indian tech professionals leave US as visa uncertainty, layoffs mount (October 19, 2026)
The latest move also comes as IBM works to strengthen its software business while its consulting division faces slower growth. The company has invested heavily in expanding its software portfolio through acquisitions, including Red Hat, HashiCorp and Confluent.
However, its consulting business has not recorded similar growth. Bloomberg reported that the division’s growth has remained largely flat since 2024. IBM Consulting generated $5.3 billion in revenue in the third quarter, unchanged from the same period last year and representing a 2% increase at constant currency.
IBM shares fell approximately 1% in morning trading following the report.
For foreign professionals working in IBM Consulting, the announcement creates an immediate challenge. Those who depend on employer sponsorship to maintain their immigration status or pursue permanent residency may now have to look for another U.S. employer willing to sponsor them.
With the end-of-year deadline approaching, affected employees face a difficult choice: continue their careers with IBM from outside the United States or leave the company and find another opportunity in the American job market.