IBM Ends H-1B and Green Card Sponsorship for Most Consulting RolesIBM ਨੇ ਕੰਸਲਟਿੰਗ ਨੌਕਰੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਵੀਜ਼ਾ ਸਪਾਂਸਰਸ਼ਿਪ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕੀਤੀ

IBM is ending H-1B visa and green card sponsorship for most roles in IBM Consulting, its largest business division, in a move that could force thousands of foreign technology workers in the United States to move abroad or leave the company by the end of the year. Bloomberg first reported the decision on November 10, and IBM confirmed the change to Reuters.

What exactly is changing?

The decision covers most roles in IBM Consulting, which employs more than 150,000 people worldwide. It applies to both H-1B work visa sponsorship and the employment-based green card process, including PERM labour certification, the first step toward permanent residency. According to an internal document reviewed by Bloomberg and shared with managers in the division, affected employees have been told they can continue working for IBM from outside the United States or leave the company by the end of 2026. IBM has not said how many employees are affected, and it has not said which roles, if any, will keep sponsorship.

In a statement, IBM said: "IBM Consulting participates in U.S. high-skilled visa programs to address skill shortages. 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."

Why is IBM doing this?

IBM says its use of high-skilled visa programmes has been falling for years. Federal data supports that: approvals for new H-1B employment at IBM fell from 1,348 in fiscal 2024 to 501 in fiscal 2025, according to figures from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services H-1B Employer Data Hub cited by Immigration Analytics. Company-wide, IBM received slightly more than 1,600 H-1B petition approvals in fiscal 2026, down from nearly 3,000 in fiscal 2024. The company says the decision reflects changing skill availability in the United States and evolving client requirements, not a withdrawal from visa programmes across the whole company.

What does it mean for Indian tech workers?

The decision lands at a moment of intense pressure on foreign professionals in the United States. The Trump administration has stepped up scrutiny of employers that hire through high-skilled visa programmes, proposed a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions, and the U.S. government recently suspended Cognizant, Infosys, TCS and Microsoft from the PERM green-card programme. Indian professionals form a large share of H-1B holders, and many Punjabi families have relatives working in American technology firms. A worker who loses a job while on an H-1B generally has a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsor, change status or leave the country. IBM has not clarified whether people already on H-1Bs inside the consulting division are covered by the change, or only new cases, and that uncertainty is the main question hanging over affected staff.

Which IBM workers are affected?

Staff in IBM Consulting in the United States who rely on, or were seeking, H-1B or green card sponsorship. IBM has not disclosed how many employees that is.

What options do affected employees have?

According to the internal document, they can keep working for IBM from outside the United States or leave the company by the end of 2026.

Does this affect all of IBM?

No. The decision applies to IBM Consulting, the company's largest division. IBM has not announced a company-wide withdrawal of visa sponsorship.

What happens to an H-1B worker who loses their job?

U.S. rules generally allow a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsor, change immigration status or leave the country.