IBM To Stop H-1B Visa, Green Card Sponsorship For Most US Consulting Jobs

New York, November 11: Technology giant IBM has decided to end H-1B visa and green card sponsorship for most positions within its US-based Consulting division, raising concerns among foreign professionals, particularly Indian employees.

According to reports by Reuters and Bloomberg, affected employees have been given the option of continuing their careers with IBM from outside the US or leaving the company by the end of 2026.

IBM Consulting employs more than 150,000 people globally and provides services in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and business transformation.

An IBM spokesperson said the decision was driven by changing skill availability and evolving client requirements, adding that the company’s reliance on high-skilled visa programmes had declined over the years.

The move comes amid US President Donald Trump’s stricter immigration policies and increased scrutiny of foreign-worker hiring. However, IBM’s decision does not mean existing H-1B visas will automatically be cancelled.

The development has raised fresh concerns among foreign professionals who depend on employer sponsorship for continued employment and their long-term green card applications in the United States.