Tech giant IBM halts H-1B visa, green card sponsorship for consulting roles amid US immigration crackdown
PTC News Desk: Technology giant IBM has decided to stop sponsoring H-1B visas and green cards for most jobs in its US consulting business. The decision comes as the Trump administration increases its restrictions on legal immigration and keeps a closer watch on work visas sponsored by companies.
The move will affect immigrant employees working in IBM Consulting who depend on the company for work visa sponsorship and a chance to get permanent residency in the US.
According to Bloomberg, affected employees have been given two options: continue working for IBM from outside the US or leave the company by the end of the year. An IBM spokesperson confirmed the decision to Newsweek and said the company's use of high-skilled visa programmes had been decreasing for several years.
The spokesperson said IBM used these visa programmes to fill skill gaps in the US. However, as the availability of skilled workers and client requirements have changed, the company has decided to stop sponsoring visas and green cards for most such positions in IBM Consulting.
The decision covers both H-1B visa applications and the PERM process. PERM, or Program Electronic Review Management, is the first major step in the most common employment-based green card process. Under this process, companies must show that qualified American workers are not available for the jobs they want to fill before hiring foreign workers permanently. It is still unclear what will happen to existing H-1B employees who can no longer receive green card sponsorship from IBM. Newsweek said it had contacted the company for more information.
According to US Department of Labor data, IBM applied for more than 1,100 H-1B visas in the 2026 financial year, which ended on September 30. However, the number of these employees who later applied for permanent residency was not immediately known.
IBM's H-1B applications are much lower than those of other major technology companies. Amazon applied for more than 13,715 H-1B visas by the third quarter of the 2026 financial year, around 11 times IBM's figure. Apple, Meta and Microsoft each applied for roughly four times as many visas as IBM.
Trump administration intensifies scrutiny
IBM's decision comes at a time when the Trump administration is closely examining the H-1B visa programme and employment-based green card system.
The H-1B visa allows US companies to hire foreign professionals for specialised jobs. It is usually granted for three years and can be extended for another three years.
Companies that want to keep foreign employees permanently generally begin the green card process through PERM labour certification.
The programme has faced criticism over claims that some companies hire foreign workers because they can pay them lower salaries, even as American employees face job cuts.
In October, Vice President JD Vance announced that Microsoft and several other major companies could face suspension from the PERM programme over alleged fraud.
The US Department of Justice has also reached settlements with Instacart and OpenAI over alleged misuse of the PERM system. Authorities said some job advertisements appeared to favour foreign workers. However, IBM has not been publicly named by the Trump administration as a company facing action over alleged PERM violations.
IBM's latest decision is another setback for immigrant professionals working in the US technology sector. Company-sponsored visas have traditionally helped foreign workers secure long-term jobs and move towards permanent residency in the country.
- PTC NEWS
