IBM Consulting ends U.S. visa sponsorship for most roles
IBM is tightening its hiring framework in the U.S. consulting market as immigration rules and labor availability shift. The company says it is ending visa and green card sponsorship for a majority of roles in IBM Consulting, a unit that employs more than 150,000 people.
Highlights
- IBM Consulting will end U.S. visa and green card sponsorship for most roles, citing changing skill availability and evolving client demands.
- Affected IBM Consulting workers must relocate outside the U.S. or leave by year-end, as confirmed by a reported internal document.
- Industry-wide, tech companies face tighter immigration scrutiny and higher costs, including a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions announced last year.
Policy shift in consulting workforce planning
As reported by Reuters, IBM says it is ending U.S. visa and green card sponsorship for a majority of roles in IBM Consulting. The company links the decision to changing skill availability and evolving client needs, according to a spokesperson.IBM Consulting has used U.S. high-skilled visa programs to address skill shortages, but the spokesperson says participation in those programs has been declining for years. The company has not said the change applies to all roles, limiting it instead to most positions in the consulting arm.
Bloomberg News reported earlier, citing a company document it said it had seen, that workers affected by the move can either work with IBM outside the U.S. or leave by the end of the year.
Immigration scrutiny raises pressure on tech employers
The decision comes as Donald Trump's administration keeps tight scrutiny on foreign tech hiring. Last month, it suspended Microsoft, Adobe and several major outsourcers, including Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, from the Permanent Labor Certification process, a key step toward green cards for foreign workers.Cost pressures have also increased for companies relying on overseas talent. Last year, the White House announced a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions, adding to the regulatory and financial burden facing employers in the sector.
Earlier, we reported on the MyIMMs contract extension for maintaining Malaysia’s legacy immigration system through 2029.
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