IBM to End Visa Sponsorship for Most Consulting Roles

IBM will end visa and green-card sponsorship for most roles in IBM Consulting, the company’s largest division, a decision that affects workers who rely on the company to secure U.S. work authorization and pursue permanent residency. IBM said affected employees can continue working for the company outside the United States or leave by the end of the year, according to an internal document shared with managers.

An IBM spokesperson said the company had opted to discontinue sponsorship for the majority of such roles. IBM said its participation in high-skilled visa programs had declined for several years as skill availability and client needs changed. The company previously used the programs to address skill shortages.

The change covers H-1B visa and green-card sponsorship, according to reports on the policy. One account specified that it applies to H-1B applications and the PERM labor-certification process, a step employers generally take when seeking permanent residency for workers. IBM has not publicly detailed how the policy will affect current H-1B employees with pending green-card cases.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data cited in the reporting show 1,611 approvals...