ARMONK, N.Y. (Diya TV) — IBM will stop sponsoring work visas and employment-based green cards for most roles in its U.S. Consulting business, a shift that could force some affected employees to relocate abroad or leave the company by year’s end.
The company confirmed the change Tuesday, saying it had decided to end sponsorship for “the majority” of consulting roles as worker availability and client needs change. IBM said its use of high-skilled visa programs had been declining for several years. It did not disclose how many employees the policy affects or detail which jobs may remain eligible.
An internal document shared with managers said affected employees could continue working for IBM from outside the United States or leave the company at the end of 2026. The document did not make clear whether IBM would consider exceptions or how it would handle employees at different stages of the green-card process.
IBM Consulting employs more than 150,000 people worldwide, making it one of the company’s largest businesses. The decision applies to most roles in that division, rather than announcing a companywide end to sponsorship. IBM’s 2025 annual report lists $21.1 billion in consulting revenue.
The change has immediate consequences for workers whose ability to remain employed in the United States depends on employer sponsorship. An H-1B visa allows employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations; an employment-based green-card process can provide a path to permanent residency. The company’s announcement does not itself cancel visas or green cards already issued, but affected workers may need to find another sponsor or pursue a role outside the country, depending on their individual circumstances.
IBM did not publicly attribute the decision to a specific government policy. Its stated reasons were evolving client demand, the availability of workers and a decline in its participation in visa programs. The change comes as employers face heightened scrutiny of foreign-worker hiring and uncertainty over federal immigration rules.
The Trump administration announced a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B petitions in 2025. Federal courts blocked the government from collecting that payment in 2026, and the administration has continued to face legal challenges over its immigration measures. The fee therefore provides context for the changing policy environment, but IBM has not said it prompted the consulting decision.
IBM’s use of H-1B visas has also declined in recent years. Federal data show the company received 1,611 petition approvals in fiscal 2026, down from 2,045 in fiscal 2025 and about 2,900 in fiscal 2024. Those figures cover approvals, not the number of employees affected by the new policy, and do not identify which IBM business units or job categories the petitions covered.
For affected employees, the year-end deadline could put pressure on decisions about relocation, job searches and immigration status. The company has not publicly explained how it will support employees who seek transfers within IBM, nor whether it will continue sponsorship for specific specialized or client-critical roles.
The change marks a significant shift for a consulting business that has used high-skilled immigration programs to fill jobs. IBM says it is responding to changes in staffing needs and client demand; the full impact will depend on which roles lose sponsorship and how the company handles employees already in the process.
