IBM ends immigration sponsorship for majority of roles in its biggest unit

IBM explains sponsorship change

An IBM spokesperson said the company will discontinue visa and green card sponsorship for most relevant roles in IBM Consulting. The unit uses U.S. high-skilled visa programs to address skill shortages, the spokesperson said, but participation has fallen over several years as workforce availability and client needs changed.

Policy scrutiny grows

The decision comes as the Trump administration has moved to limit technology companies’ reliance on foreign workers. In September 2025, President Donald Trump introduced a $100,000 fee for some H-1B applicants; the proposal is tied up in court.

Last month, Vice President JD Vance said the administration was suspending Microsoft from a federal program used to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency. Vance accused the company of abusing the Permanent Labor Certification process, commonly known as PERM.

IBM figures need context

IBM Consulting is the company’s largest unit, with more than 150,000 consultants, according to IBM’s website. IBM’s 2025 annual report listed 264,300 employees across the company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

Federal records show just over 1,600 H-1B petitions approved for IBM in fiscal year 2026, compared with more than 2,000 in FY 2025 and nearly 3,000 in FY 2024. Those figures cover IBM as a whole, not IBM Consulting specifically, and may include extensions or amendments for current employees rather than new hires.