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IBM visa sponsorship cuts in US consulting division

IBM is ending US visa and Green Card sponsorship for most consulting roles, as the administration proposes a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions and suspended Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant.

Updated 22:08 UTC, 10 November 2026 · 3 reports from 2 outlets · 3 confirmed · 15 one-source

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Image from Al Jazeera: IBM’s biggest division ends most US foreign worker sponsorships

Image: Al Jazeera

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Written by AI only from the receipts on this page; each number links to the claim that line rests on.

What changed

Last 48 hours, newest first (times UTC)

  1. Where it stands IBM is ending US visa and Green Card sponsorship for most consulting roles, as the administration proposes a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions and suspended Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant. 5 hrs ago
  2. Upgraded now confirmed by 2 outlets: The administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services from the PERM programme last month. 5 hrs ago
  3. Upgraded now confirmed by 2 outlets: IBM is ending US visa and Green Card sponsorship for most positions in its consulting division. 5 hrs ago
  4. New claim The suspended companies included Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Microsoft. 5 hrs ago
  5. New claim The administration said in October it was suspending several tech companies from a programme allowing H-1B workers to apply for green cards. 5 hrs ago
  6. New claim Only 1,611 H-1B petitions were approved for IBM in fiscal year 2026. 5 hrs ago
  7. New claim IBM Consulting employs more than 150,000 of IBM's 264,300-strong global workforce. 5 hrs ago
  8. New claim IBM says its participation in US high-skilled visa programmes had been declining for years. 5 hrs ago
  9. New claim IBM's consultancy unit ended sponsorship for most roles, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday. 5 hrs ago
  10. New claim IBM will stop sponsoring US foreign worker visas and green cards for most roles in its largest division. 5 hrs ago
14 earlier changes
  1. New claim IBM employees on H-1B visas who want to stay in the US will have to find a new employer. 5 hrs ago
  2. New claim Affected IBM employees can leave the US and keep working for IBM abroad or leave the company at the end of the year. 5 hrs ago
  3. New claim Anthony D'Esposito: "If your business model depends on nobody checking, find a new business model." 5 hrs ago
  4. New claim Anthony D'Esposito says IBM's announcement was a reaction to the Trump administration's crackdown on visa and Green Card abuse. 5 hrs ago
  5. New claim Anthony D'Esposito is the Inspector General of the US Department of Labor. 5 hrs ago
  6. New claim IBM says skill availability in the US prompted its decision to end visa sponsorship. 5 hrs ago
  7. New claim The administration accused the suspended companies of abusing the US worker visa system and suspended them indefinitely from PERM. 5 hrs ago
  8. New claim The administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services from the PERM programme last month. 5 hrs ago
  9. New claim The Trump administration proposed a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions. (confirmed by 2 outlets) 5 hrs ago
  10. New claim IBM's decision does not amount to a company-wide end to immigration sponsorship. 5 hrs ago
  11. New claim Workers affected by IBM's sponsorship change can continue with IBM outside the US or leave by the end of the year. 5 hrs ago
  12. New claim IBM Consulting employs more than 150,000 people. 5 hrs ago
  13. New claim IBM is ending US visa and Green Card sponsorship for most positions in its consulting division. 5 hrs ago
  14. Story opened IBM has ended visa sponsorship for most roles in its IBM Consulting division in the US, with affected workers facing a year-end deadline. 5 hrs ago

How it’s being told

One card per media bloc, with each outlet’s framing written from its own headlines.

Middle East state media

Al JazeeraState media

  • Al Jazeera foregrounds the scale of IBM's consulting workforce and the administration's 'cracking down on fraud' rationale, centring the suspended firms and the $100,000 fee while saying little.

Asian media

The Times of IndiaPrivate

  • The Times of India centres affected employees' options and a year-end deadline, quoting an official calling the move 'funny' and a reaction to the administration's 'crackdown', while giving.

In their words

What the people at the centre of this story said, word for word, with the article each quote appeared in.

as skill availability and client needs have evolved

IBMAl JazeeraReceipt

@IBMis pulling back on visa sponsorships. Funny how the corporate calculus changes when scrutiny shows up...If your business model depends on nobody checking, find a new business model

Anthony D'EspositoThe Times of IndiaReceipt

Receipts

Every claim with the verbatim sentence it came from. Tap a claim to see its sources.

Confirmed 3

Reported by at least two independent outlets, or by the actor itself.

The administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services from the PERM programme last month. Confirmed by 2The Times of India, Al Jazeera · #
The Trump administration proposed a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions. Confirmed by 2The Times of India, Al Jazeera · #
IBM is ending US visa and Green Card sponsorship for most positions in its consulting division. Confirmed by 2The Times of India, Al Jazeera · #

One source 15

Only one outlet so far. Shown, never hidden — treat with care.

The administration said in October it was suspending several tech companies from a programme allowing H-1B workers to apply for green cards. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
  • “The administration said in October it was suspending a number of tech companies from a programme that allows H-1B workers to apply for green cards, saying it was cracking down on fraud and ensuring American workers were not being laid off and replaced by foreigners.”

    Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesIBM’s biggest division ends most US foreign worker sponsorships

Only 1,611 H-1B petitions were approved for IBM in fiscal year 2026. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
IBM Consulting employs more than 150,000 of IBM's 264,300-strong global workforce. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
IBM says its participation in US high-skilled visa programmes had been declining for years. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
IBM's consultancy unit ended sponsorship for most roles, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
IBM employees on H-1B visas who want to stay in the US will have to find a new employer. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
Affected IBM employees can leave the US and keep working for IBM abroad or leave the company at the end of the year. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
Anthony D'Esposito: "If your business model depends on nobody checking, find a new business model." One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
Anthony D'Esposito says IBM's announcement was a reaction to the Trump administration's crackdown on visa and Green Card abuse. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
Anthony D'Esposito is the Inspector General of the US Department of Labor. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
IBM says skill availability in the US prompted its decision to end visa sponsorship. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
The administration accused the suspended companies of abusing the US worker visa system and suspended them indefinitely from PERM. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
IBM's decision does not amount to a company-wide end to immigration sponsorship. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
Workers affected by IBM's sponsorship change can continue with IBM outside the US or leave by the end of the year. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
IBM Consulting employs more than 150,000 people. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #

Ask about this story

Line, our AI correspondent, answers only from the receipts on this page. Every sentence links to the claim behind it.

All sources

3 reports from 2 outlets — with who owns each outlet and who pays for it.

The Times of India Private

IndiaOwner: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (The Times Group)Paid by: advertising + circulation

Al Jazeera State media

QatarOwner: Al Jazeera Media NetworkPaid by: funded by the State of Qatar

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Read the AI explainer

3 confirmed · 15 one-source2 outletsUpdated