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Amazon is allowing certain employees stranded in India to work remotely until early March as visa processing delays complicate international mobility for US-based staff.
According to an internal memo viewed by Business Insider, employees who were in India as of December 13 and are waiting for rescheduled visa appointments may work remotely through March 2. The accommodation applies only to a defined group of workers affected by delays tied to the H-1B visa program.
The memo outlines strict boundaries on permitted work. Employees approved for temporary remote work are barred from coding, making strategic business decisions, or engaging with customers. Amazon said the restrictions are required to ensure compliance with local laws, adding that no exceptions will be granted.
The company did not address how it will handle cases where visa appointments extend beyond the March 2 deadline or situations involving employees stranded in countries other than India.
Social media checks slow visa approvals
The delays stem from a new requirement for consular officers to review applicants’ social media activity as part of the visa vetting process. The additional screening has led to scheduling backlogs at US embassies and consulates, particularly in India.
Amazon’s situation reflects a wider challenge across the technology sector, with Google owner Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft all issuing travel advisories to employees who rely on US work visas, warning that departures from the country could result in extended stays abroad.
Immigration counsel for Google, BAL Immigration Law, told employees that some embassies and consulates are experiencing visa stamping delays of up to 12 months. Apple employees received similar guidance from law firm Fragomen, which advised those without valid H-1B visa stamps to postpone international travel where possible.
“Given the recent updates and the possibility of unpredictable, extended delays when returning to the US, we strongly recommend that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now,” the Apple memo said.
Broader implications for employers
The US Department of State confirmed it has expanded online presence reviews for visa applicants, including H-1B workers, students, and exchange visitors. A spokesperson said appointments may be rescheduled as resources shift and that expedited processing can be requested on a case-by-case basis.
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“Our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” the spokesperson said.
Immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC reported postponed appointments in countries including Ireland and Vietnam, while Google’s counsel said the delays affect multiple visa categories.
Jason Finkelman, an attorney specializing in employment visas, said complications typically arise when workers leave the US to obtain a new visa stamp and appointments are later canceled.
“My advice to clients is that if travel isn’t essential right now, better to stay put,” Finkelman said.
The H-1B program, capped at 85,000 new visas annually, remains a critical talent pipeline, making prolonged delays a growing workforce planning concern.
