11 Nov 2026: IBM will stop sponsoring H-1B work visas and green cards for most jobs in IBM Consulting, its largest business.
Key facts
IBM’s statement: It has “opted to discontinue visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of such roles,” saying its use of visa programs has been falling for years as client needs and local skills changed.
Scope: No new H-1B petitions and no PERM filings, the first step in most job-based green cards.
Size: IBM Consulting has more than 150,000 employees worldwide. IBM hasn’t said how many are on US visas.
The Federal Backdrop: IBM is pivoting to software and consulting results have been flat since 2024.
What workers must do
Affected employees have until the end of 2026 to move to an IBM job outside the US or leave. To stay in America, they need a new employer to sponsor and transfer their visa. IBTimes India
H-1B workers who lose a job usually get 60 days to find a new sponsor or leave. DHS has proposed ending that grace period; the rule is under White House review.
IBM’s H-1B numbers
IBM’s H-1B use was shrinking well before this decision.
| Fiscal year | All H-1B approvals | New-hire approvals |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 1,611 | Not yet reported |
| FY2025 | 2,045 | 501 |
| FY2024 | Nearly 3,000 | 1,348 |
New-hire approvals fell 63% in one year. Since 2009, IBM has sponsored H-1B workers 27,863 times.
Why now
The Trump administration has made H-1B workers costlier and harder to hire.
| Date | Change | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 8, 2026 | Microsoft, Adobe, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant and Capgemini suspended from PERM over fraud probes | In force |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Agencies told to weigh layoffs when reviewing H-1B petitions | In force |
| Aug 25, 2026 | $103,265 fee proposed on each cap-subject H-1B petition | Proposed |
| Feb 27, 2026 | Wage-weighted lottery favors higher-paid applicants | In force |
| Sep 19, 2025 | $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B petitions | Struck down in June 2026; not collected while the government appeals |
Who is hit hardest
Indian tech professionals, many of whom depend on US employers for visas and green cards. Unlike the PERM suspensions, IBM’s move is a company choice, not a government ban.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mbcjaVFuLTs
Still unknown
- How many workers are affected.
- Whether current H-1B holders and pending green card cases are covered.
- Which roles keep sponsorship.
- Whether a formal memo exists. Reports cite an internal document, but none has been published.
Sources
Startup Fortune (cites Bloomberg, Business Insider), Nov 11, 2026
IBTimes India, Nov 11, 2026
The Federal, Nov 11, 2026
FWD.us H-1B explainer, Sep 29, 2026
Ellis on the PERM suspension, Oct 2026