Amazon’s Remote Work Ban in India: H-1B Employees Told ‘Don’t Code, Don’t Sign’

Amazon to H-1B employees working in India: You can't code or sign; Full list of dont's

Imagine being a software engineer at one of the world’s most powerful tech companies—but being told you can’t write a single line of code. That’s the bizarre reality facing dozens of Amazon employees currently stranded in India due to H-1B visa delays. In an internal memo that has since gone viral, Amazon has laid out a strict list of **11 prohibited activities** for these workers, effectively neutering their ability to perform core job functions until they return to the U.S. by March 2, 2026 . This unprecedented move highlights the growing tension between global tech operations and local labor regulations—and it’s leaving many talented professionals feeling sidelined and frustrated.

Table of Contents

Why Amazon Imposed the Ban

The root cause isn’t malice—it’s compliance. Indian labor and tax laws are notoriously complex when it comes to foreign employees working remotely for overseas entities. If an employee performs “productive work” for a foreign employer while physically in India without proper local registration (like a business entity or payroll setup), the company could face significant legal and financial penalties . To avoid this risk, Amazon has taken a hyper-conservative approach: if the activity could be interpreted as “work for a U.S. entity,” it’s off-limits.

The Full List of “Don’ts” for H-1B Employees in India

According to internal communications reported by the Times of India, Amazon employees in India are explicitly forbidden from engaging in the following activities :

  1. Writing or committing code to any Amazon repository.
  2. Reviewing or approving code from other team members.
  3. Making strategic or operational decisions that impact projects or products.
  4. Interacting with external customers or partners.
  5. Signing any official documents on behalf of Amazon.
  6. Participating in performance reviews (either giving or receiving).
  7. Accessing certain internal systems deemed sensitive for non-local employees.
  8. Representing Amazon in any public or official capacity.
  9. Managing or directing other employees based in the U.S. or elsewhere.
  10. Engaging in sales or business development activities.
  11. Handling financial transactions or budget approvals.

In essence, these engineers are allowed to attend meetings, read documentation, and plan—but not execute. It’s like being handed a paintbrush but told you can’t touch the canvas.

While Amazon’s caution is legally defensible, many experts argue it’s overly rigid. Companies like Microsoft and Google have reportedly adopted more nuanced approaches, allowing limited technical work under specific compliance frameworks . The U.S. Department of State notes that H-1B holders are permitted to work remotely from abroad temporarily during visa processing, provided their employer remains compliant with local laws . Amazon’s blanket ban may reflect internal risk aversion rather than an absolute legal requirement.

Impact on Engineers and Team Productivity

For the affected employees—many of whom left the U.S. for urgent family reasons or were caught in visa backlogs—the restrictions are demoralizing. “I’m paid to solve problems, not watch my team struggle without me,” shared one anonymous Amazon SDE in a Reddit thread [INTERNAL_LINK:h1b-visa-stories]. Teams are also feeling the strain, with delayed sprints, bottlenecked code reviews, and knowledge gaps that only the stranded engineer can fill. This isn’t just a personal hardship; it’s a tangible drag on innovation and delivery.

How Other Tech Giants Are Handling Visa Delays

Not all companies are taking such a hardline stance. Some are exploring short-term local employment contracts or partnering with Indian subsidiaries to legally enable work. Others are using this time for upskilling—allowing employees to take courses or contribute to open-source projects that don’t involve proprietary systems. These alternatives suggest that while compliance is non-negotiable, complete inactivity may not be the only path forward.

What This Means for the Future of Global Tech Work

The Amazon case is a wake-up call for the entire tech industry. As remote work becomes normalized and global mobility faces increasing bureaucratic hurdles, companies must develop robust, country-specific remote work policies. Relying on ad-hoc bans during crises is unsustainable. Forward-thinking firms are already investing in legal infrastructure to support “digital nomad” employees—a trend likely to accelerate post-2026.

Conclusion: Waiting in Limbo

The Amazon H-1B remote work India situation is more than a policy memo—it’s a human story of skilled professionals caught between two worlds. While the March 2 deadline offers a light at the end of the tunnel, the experience underscores a critical gap: global companies need global-ready HR and legal frameworks. Until then, talented engineers will remain in professional purgatory, watching the code they’re trained to write… but forbidden to touch.

Sources

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top