Amazon has announced temporary relief for some employees facing delays in their H-1B visas. The company has relaxed the usual five-day office visit rule and is allowing employees stuck in India to work remotely until March 2, 2026.
This applies to employees who were in India as of December 13, 2025, and have been waiting a long time for a US visa appointment.
Who Can Work Remotely?
This exemption is meant for Amazon employees who traveled to India for personal reasons but couldn’t return due to a lack of visa slots. Normally, Amazon allows only 20 business days of remote work from abroad.
This time, instead of placing employees on extended leave, the company has allowed a limited work-from-home option so employees can continue working while waiting for their visa. This arrangement is temporary.
Strict Rules for Remote Work
Amazon has set strict rules for employees working from India. They cannot perform technical tasks such as coding, software development, testing, or code deployment.
Employees are also not allowed to visit Amazon offices, sign contracts, manage teams, or make strategic decisions. All final approvals will happen outside India, following legal requirements.
Visa Delays Affect Other Tech Companies
Amazon has warned employees to strictly follow these rules and noted that violations could lead to action. Other tech giants like Google, Apple, and Microsoft are also facing H-1B delays and have advised employees to avoid foreign travel.
Since Amazon is a major H-1B employer, this temporary relief is seen as short-term, and the visa delays remain unresolved for many employees.
