IBM has decided to stop sponsoring visas and green cards for most positions in its largest division, IBM Consulting, amid tightening US immigration rules under President Donald Trump. The move marks a shift in the company's approach to hiring overseas professionals as the administration steps up scrutiny of programmes used by technology companies to recruit foreign talent.
A company spokesperson confirmed the decision, saying, “We have opted to discontinue visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of such roles in IBM Consulting,”
The spokesperson said the division had previously participated in “US high-skilled visa programs” to address shortages of skilled professionals. However, participation in these programmes had been declining over several years as the availability of skilled workers and client requirements changed.
What happens to employees affected by the decision?
Employees impacted by the move will have the option of continuing their association with IBM by working from outside the US or leaving the company at the end of the year, Bloomberg reported, citing an internal document.
The document was reportedly circulated among managers in the concerned division earlier this week. IBM Consulting is the company's largest business unit, employing more than 150,000 people, according to its website.
The decision comes as IBM reshapes its business to place greater emphasis on software. The company has acquired Red Hat, HashiCorp and Confluent as part of this strategy. Meanwhile, its consulting business has struggled to record significant growth, with the division's expansion remaining largely flat since 2024.
Trump's immigration crackdown puts tech hiring under pressure
The US technology industry has traditionally relied on foreign professionals to fill specialised roles, with the H-1B programme serving as a major route for recruiting overseas talent.
However, since returning to office last year, Trump has pushed companies to prioritise American workers. His administration has proposed a $100,000 filing fee for most H-1B candidates and changes to the annual visa lottery that would favour applicants offered higher salaries.
Last month, the administration also accused Microsoft, Adobe and other companies of misusing the US worker visa programme and suspended them indefinitely from using it.
IBM's H-1B approvals see a decline
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data shows IBM received 1,611 H-1B approvals in the 2026 budget year, which ended on September 30. This was lower than the 2,045 approvals recorded in 2025.
Since 2009, IBM has sponsored H-1B workers 27,863 times, placing it 20th among the programme's sponsors. Microsoft, meanwhile, secured 3,828 H-1B approvals in 2026.