Amazon has temporarily relaxed its return-to-office rules for employees stranded in India due to H-1B visa delays, allowing them to work remotely until early March.
Amazon has announced a temporary relaxation of its return-to-office policy for a select group of employees who are currently unable to return to the United States due to visa backlogs. This decision comes amid increasing scrutiny of U.S. immigration policies, particularly affecting H-1B visa holders.
According to an internal memo obtained by Business Insider, the company is permitting employees stuck in India because of visa delays to continue working remotely from their home country until early March. This adjustment provides short-term relief for those affected workers who had anticipated returning to the U.S. on schedule. Despite this exception, Amazon is continuing to enforce stricter in-office attendance requirements for its workforce.
The memo indicates that this temporary measure is specifically designed to address the disruptions caused by immigration issues and does not represent a broader change in Amazon’s remote work policy. Employees who qualify for this arrangement are, however, subject to significant restrictions. They are prohibited from writing code, participating in strategic decision-making, or engaging directly with customers during this period.
Amazon is not the only company grappling with the repercussions of visa delays. Many organizations across corporate America are adjusting to the rapid changes implemented during the Trump administration regarding the H-1B visa program. One of the most impactful changes has been the requirement for consular officers to scrutinize visa applicants’ social media activity before granting approval, which has significantly slowed processing times.
As a result, U.S. embassies and consulates in various countries have postponed visa appointments by several months. This situation has left many employees stranded abroad longer than anticipated, forcing employers to find creative solutions to maintain productivity.
The implications of these delays extend beyond Amazon. In recent weeks, major U.S. companies such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft have issued internal travel advisories. These advisories caution visa-holding employees against international travel, reflecting concerns that routine trips could lead to extended absences due to ongoing visa renewal and reentry delays.
Under Amazon’s standard policy, employees traveling overseas for visa renewals are allowed to work remotely for up to 20 business days. This is a limited exception to the company’s general requirement for employees to be in the office five days a week. However, the new guidance expands this allowance significantly.
According to the memo posted on Amazon’s internal HR portal on December 17, any employee who was in India as of December 13 and is awaiting a rescheduled visa appointment can continue to work remotely until March 2. This temporary extension highlights how immigration delays are compelling even the most office-centric companies to adapt their policies.
As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how companies will continue to navigate the complexities of immigration and work policies in a changing landscape.
For further details, refer to Business Insider.