IBM to end visa, green card sponsorship for most roles in its Consulting arm

IBM announced on Tuesday that it would cease to sponsor visas and green cards for the majority of positions within its Consulting arm, IBM Consulting, which boasts a workforce of over 150,000 employees. This decision comes amidst stringent scrutiny of foreign tech hiring by the administration led by former President Donald Trump.

In a parallel move last month, IBM suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and several other prominent outsourcing firms like Cognizant, Infosys, and Tata Consultancy Services from the Permanent Labor Certification process - a crucial stage towards securing green cards for foreign workers.

IBM Consulting has historically relied on high-skilled visa programs to bridge skill gaps. However, the company spokesperson told Reuters that such participation had been dwindling for years, prompting the firm to decide to discontinue sponsorship for most such roles. The move was attributed to a shift in skill availability and client demands.

Workers affected by this decision would be able to continue working with IBM outside the US or leave the country by the end of the year, according to a Bloomberg News report citing a company document. The White House had previously announced a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions at the end of last year.