Source TOI
Amazon has made a rare exception to its strict return-to-office (RTO) policy for a group of employees who are currently stuck in India because of prolonged delays in the processing of H-1B work visas, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Seattle-based tech giant has temporarily allowed these affected employees to work remotely from India—an option that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy had largely discontinued from January 2025 as part of a broader push to bring employees back to the office. The move marks a notable departure from the company’s otherwise firm stance on in-person work.
Employees impacted by the decision are primarily those who had traveled to India for personal reasons or visa renewals and were unable to return to the United States due to long wait times for H-1B stamping and administrative processing. Under Amazon’s standard policy, working from outside the country of employment is generally not permitted because of tax, compliance, and data-security concerns.
Sources said the exception was granted on a case-by-case basis after internal reviews, with Amazon recognizing that the visa delays were beyond employees’ control. The company has reportedly put safeguards in place, including time-bound approvals and role-specific clearances, to ensure compliance with legal and security requirements.
Andy Jassy has been a strong advocate of in-office work, arguing that physical presence boosts collaboration, innovation, and company culture. Since January 2025, Amazon has significantly tightened remote-work allowances, asking most corporate employees to be in the office for the majority of the workweek. The latest decision, however, underscores the challenges global companies face amid immigration bottlenecks and cross-border workforce issues.
While Amazon has not publicly detailed the number of employees covered under the exception, the development has brought relief to several India-based staff members who feared being placed on unpaid leave or facing role uncertainty. Industry experts say similar visa-related disruptions have affected other US tech firms with large Indian workforces.
The exception is understood to be temporary, with Amazon expecting employees to return to their designated US offices once visa issues are resolved. For now, the move highlights a pragmatic shift by the company in navigating immigration hurdles while retaining critical talent.
