IBM is ending visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of positions within its consulting division, impacting thousands of employees. The decision affects the company’s largest business unit, which currently employs more than 150,000 people. According to a company spokesperson, the firm has decided to discontinue sponsorship for most roles within this specific division due to evolving client requirements and changing skill availability.
Employees impacted by this policy change face an immediate deadline. The company has informed affected workers that they must either transition to an IBM role outside of the United States or leave the organisation by the end of the calendar year. While the move represents a significant shift for the consulting wing, an IBM spokesperson clarified that the decision does not constitute a company-wide termination of all immigration sponsorship.
This policy adjustment coincides with increased scrutiny from the Trump administration regarding the hiring of foreign workers. The current administration has implemented various measures aimed at restricting the H-1B visa programme, including proposing a $100,000 fee for certain new petitions and altering the annual lottery system to prioritise higher-paid applicants. Additionally, the administration has suspended several major outsourcing firms and technology companies from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme, alleging abuse of the visa system.
Key facts
- The policy change impacts the majority of roles in IBM Consulting, the firm’s largest division.
- IBM Consulting employs more than 150,000 people globally.
- Affected staff have until the end of the year to relocate internationally or leave the company.
- The administration recently suspended firms like Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, and TCS from the PERM programme.
- New H-1B proposals include a $100,000 fee for some petitions and revised lottery prioritisation.
Why it matters
The decision by IBM follows a broader trend of technology companies reassessing their reliance on high-skilled visa programmes amid heightened regulatory pressure. By ending sponsorship for a vast segment of its consulting division, IBM is moving to align its workforce strategy with the current administration's focus on prioritising domestic labour and restricting the entry of foreign professionals.
Source: Times of India
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