In a significant move, technology titan IBM has announced that it will no longer sponsor H-1B visas and green cards for the majority of roles within its US consulting business. This decision, driven by the Trump administration's increased focus on legal immigration and employer-sponsored visa scrutiny, affects immigrant workers in IBM Consulting who rely on the company for work visa sponsorship and a pathway to permanent residency in the United States. Affected employees have been given the option to continue working for IBM from outside the US or to leave the company by the end of the year.
IBM's spokesperson confirmed this development, stating that the company's participation in high-skilled visa programs has been declining for several years due to evolving skill availability and client needs. This move covers applications under the H-1B program and the PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) process, the initial step in the most common employment-based green card category. It remains unclear what will happen to existing H-1B employees who are no longer eligible for green card sponsorship through the company.
The decision by IBM comes as the Trump administration intensifies its scrutiny of the H-1B visa program and the employment-based green card pathway. The H-1B visa allows US companies to hire foreign professionals in specialized occupations, initially for a period of three years with potential extensions. Employers seeking to retain workers permanently typically begin the green card process through PERM labor certification. However, the program has faced criticism over allegations that companies prefer foreign workers because they can be hired at lower wages, even as American employees face layoffs.
The Trump administration has not publicly named IBM as a company facing action over alleged PERM violations. This decision marks another setback for immigrant professionals in the US technology sector, where employer-sponsored visas have traditionally served as an important route to long-term employment and permanent residency. The move by IBM is significant considering that other major tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft each sought considerably more H-1B visas.