In a move highlighting the severe backlog in US work visas, Amazon has instituted a temporary remote work policy for its employees stranded in India due to H-1B visa processing delays. However, an internal company memo makes it starkly clear that these workers are largely prohibited from performing their core job functions while in the country.
What Does Amazon's Policy Actually Allow?
The policy, posted on Amazon's internal HR portal on December 17, applies to affected employees who were in India as of December 13, 2025. It permits them to work remotely until March 2, 2026, a temporary exception to the company's standard mandate of five days a week in the office.
Despite being on the payroll, the employees face severe operational restrictions. The memo explicitly states they cannot:
- Code, test, or troubleshoot software.
- Make strategic decisions or give final approvals.
- Interact with customers or negotiate contracts.
- Access Amazon office buildings.
All final approvals and key decisions must legally take place outside India, essentially meaning the job must remain anchored in the United States. US investor and Ed-Tech chairman Hany Girgis commented on the situation on X, stating that while Amazon "found a workaround for H-1B visa delays," the policy doesn't actually let people perform their work.
The Broader H-1B Visa Crisis and Industry Impact
This policy emerges amidst significant challenges with H-1B visa delays, exacerbated by additional screening requirements like social media and digital footprint checks instituted under the Trump administration. Many US consulates and embassies have postponed appointments by months, leaving employees unable to enter the US.
The impact is particularly acute for employees in technical roles. As reported by Business Insider, their primary tasks—coding, testing, and deploying—are directly prohibited under the restrictions. Amazon is one of the largest users of the H-1B visa program, with nearly 14,800 certified applications in the 2024 fiscal year, including some for its subsidiary Whole Foods.
Other tech giants like Google, Apple, and Microsoft have issued travel warnings to prevent employees from getting stranded abroad under similar circumstances.
Political Reactions and the "America First" Debate
The situation has reignited the political debate around the H-1B program. Hany Girgis questioned the logic, asking, "If the work must stay here, why doesn't the hiring?" His comments align with sentiments from some MAGA-aligned figures who have urged the GOP government to permanently ban H-1B visas.
They argue the program unfairly takes jobs and opportunities from American workers and gives them to foreign employees. Amazon's internal memo, which legally mandates that the work stay in the US, ironically fuels this argument, highlighting the complex tension between global talent needs and domestic employment policies.
For now, the affected Amazon employees in India find themselves in a professional limbo—officially employed but unable to contribute meaningfully to their roles, as the company and countless others navigate an increasingly strained US immigration system.
