Overview
- An internal memo dated December 17 authorizes eligible employees who were in India as of December 13 and awaiting rescheduled visa appointments to work remotely until March 2, 2026.
- The allowance bars coding, troubleshooting, testing, customer interactions, contract work, strategic decisions, and visits to Amazon sites, with reviews and final sign‑offs required outside India.
- The guidance offers no direction for workers with visa interviews scheduled after March 2 or for employees stranded outside India.
- Processing has slowed after consular officers were directed to review applicants’ social media, with some U.S. posts pushing appointments by months and, in some cases, into 2027.
- Google, Apple, and Microsoft have warned visa holders to avoid travel, and the stakes are high for Amazon, a heavy H‑1B user that typically requires five days in office and only short remote exceptions.