Amazon India Work Restrictions List highlights how immigration delays can directly impact global workforces. While Amazon’s decision to keep employees on payroll offers some relief, the extensive restrictions significantly limit productivity—especially for technical roles.
In a major development for Indian professionals working with Amazon, the company has introduced strict work restrictions for employees who are stuck in India due to delays in H-1B visa processing. While Amazon has allowed such employees to remain on payroll and work remotely for a limited period, the permission comes with heavy limitations on the type of work they are allowed to perform.
Amazon India Work Restrictions List (Detailed)
Below is the complete list of activities NOT allowed while working remotely from India under this policy.
- Prohibited Activities
- Employees working remotely from India must not:
- Do any form of coding, including:
- Software development
- Troubleshooting
- Testing
- Code documentation
- Work from or visit any Amazon office or site in India
- Take strategic or business decisions
- Participate in product management or development planning
- Negotiate, approve, or sign contracts (including DocuSign)
- Communicate with or provide services to customers
- Manage or supervise Amazon employees or teams in India
- Hire employees or make hiring decisions
- Handle vendor, partner, or customer relationships
- Give the impression of having authority to bind Amazon legally
- Approve budgets, sign-offs, or final reviews from India
- Do any form of coding, including:
Why Amazon Introduced These Work Restrictions
Due to recent changes in US immigration policies and delays in visa processing, many Amazon employees could not return to the United States after travelling to India for visa renewal. To support these employees temporarily, Amazon allowed remote work from India until March 2, 2026.
However, the company stated clearly that these restrictions are non-negotiable and are imposed in compliance with local Indian laws. All major decision-making authority must remain outside India.
Who Do These Restrictions Apply To?
Policy applies to:
- Amazon employees who were in India as of December 13
- Employees waiting for rescheduled US visa appointments
- US-based Amazon staff temporarily stranded in India
This includes employees across departments, particularly software engineers, product managers, and business roles.
Read: APPSC Group 2 Jobs List and Salary
Highlights of Amazon India Remote Work Policy
| Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Amazon |
| Reason for Policy | H-1B visa processing delays |
| Remote Work Allowed Till | March 2, 2026 |
| Location Allowed | Remote only (non-Amazon locations) |
| Coding Allowed | No |
| Decision-Making Allowed | No |
| Contract Signing | No |
| Office Visits | Not allowed |
| Final Approvals | Must happen outside India |
| Policy Nature | Mandatory, non-negotiable |
Impact on Employees, Especially Engineers
For technical employees, these restrictions create serious challenges. Many engineers have stated that 70–80% of their daily work involves coding, testing, or documentation, which are now fully restricted.
This has led to confusion and frustration, as employees question how meaningful work can be performed under such limitations, even though they remain officially employed and paid.
Connection to H-1B Visa Changes
Situation is linked to recent changes introduced by USCIS, including:
- Increased scrutiny of visa applications
- Social media review requirements
- Higher premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026
These measures have slowed visa approvals, especially in India, where demand for US work visas is very high.
Read : Group 2 Jobs List