IBM Ends US Visa and Green Card Sponsorship for Most Consulting Roles

IBM is ending visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of positions within its US consulting business, a shift that could affect foreign professionals seeking to work permanently in the country as the Trump administration tightens restrictions on skilled-worker immigration.

The decision covers IBM Consulting, which employs more than 150,000 people globally, and comes amid increased federal scrutiny of companies that rely on foreign workers to fill technology and professional services positions.

A company spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday that IBM Consulting had historically used US high-skilled visa programmes to address skills shortages, but its participation had been declining for several years. The company decided to stop sponsoring most roles after assessing changes in the availability of skills and the requirements of its clients, the spokesperson said.

Workers affected by the decision will have the option of continuing their employment with IBM outside the United States or leaving the company by the end of the year, Bloomberg News reported earlier, citing an internal company document.

The move places IBM among a growing number of technology companies and outsourcing providers facing pressure over their use of foreign labor in the US. It also signals a change in how large consulting businesses approach workforce planning as immigration rules become more restrictive.

Last month, the Trump administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe and several major outsourcing companies, including Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, from the Permanent Labor Certification process.

The programme, commonly known as PERM, is a key stage in the employment-based green card process. Employers generally must demonstrate that qualified US workers are not available for the positions before sponsoring eligible foreign employees for permanent residency.

The suspensions raised concerns across the technology and outsourcing industries because companies in these sectors frequently recruit internationally to fill specialized positions in software development, engineering, data management, and other technical fields.

IBM's decision comes against that backdrop, although the company attributed the change to evolving skills availability and client requirements rather than directly linking it to the recent government action.

IBM said its reliance on high-skilled immigration programmes had already been declining for years, suggesting that the policy change also reflects adjustments in its workforce strategy.

The H-1B costs have added to the changing economics of foreign hiring.

The administration has also increased the financial burden associated with hiring foreign professionals. Last year, the White House announced a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions, a high additional cost for employers seeking to recruit skilled workers from overseas.

The H-1B programme allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialized occupations, particularly in technology, engineering, and other professional fields. It has been an important recruitment channel for major technology companies and outsourcing providers.

The higher fee, combined with increased scrutiny of employment-based immigration, could make international recruitment more expensive and administratively difficult for businesses.

For consulting firms, the implications extend beyond immigration compliance. Their operating models often depend on access to specialized talent across multiple countries, allowing them to deploy employees according to client demand and project requirements.

IBM's decision to offer affected workers positions outside the United States provides one indication of how multinational employers may respond: retaining employees within their global operations while reducing reliance on US immigration sponsorship.

The longer-term effect will depend on how other technology and consulting companies adjust their recruitment policies, particularly if federal restrictions continue to tighten. For foreign professionals, however, the shift creates another obstacle to securing permanent employment and residency in the US.