New York: Tech giant IBM has announced that it will discontinue H-1B visa extensions and green card sponsorship for the majority of foreign employees within its US consulting division. This decision is expected to significantly impact numerous foreign professionals, including a large number of Indian workers, who are seeking permanent residency in the United States.
The move comes amid intensified scrutiny and tightening of employment-based immigration programs under US President Donald Trump’s administration. An IBM spokesperson clarified that the company originally participated in high-skilled visa programs to address local skill shortages, but its reliance on foreign workers has been steadily declining over recent years.
Reports indicate that affected employees have been offered the option to either relocate to IBM offices outside the US or leave the company by the end of the year. According to US Department of Labor data, IBM filed for over 1,100 H-1B visas in fiscal year 2026, which ended on September 30. The policy shift leaves current H-1B holders relying on IBM for green card sponsorship facing an uncertain future.
IBM’s decision follows aggressive enforcement measures by the Trump administration against major tech firms, including Microsoft, over alleged irregularities in the Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) labor certification process.
