IBM’s biggest division ends most US foreign worker sponsorships
United States technology giant IBM will stop sponsoring US foreign worker visas and green cards for most roles in its largest division, the company announced on Tuesday.
The decision affects IBM Consulting, which employs more than 150,000 of IBM's 264,300-strong global workforce. A company spokesperson told Reuters the move comes "as skill availability and client needs have evolved".
Declining visa participation
IBM has become less reliant on H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers in recent years. Only 1,611 H-1B petitions were approved for the company in fiscal year 2026, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services data.
Administration crackdown
The announcement follows increased pressure from the Trump administration on major companies to reduce their highly skilled foreign workforce. President Trump has claimed the H-1B program is often subject to fraud and takes work away from skilled Americans.
Last year, the administration announced a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions. In October, it suspended several tech companies, including Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Microsoft, from a program allowing H-1B workers to apply for green cards.
The suspensions were announced within hours of Trump honouring Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
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