Does Amazon Offer Work Visas in 2024? (All You Need to Know)
Over the past decade, Amazon has rapidly grown into one of the biggest sponsors of work visas in the U.S. Last year alone, they filed over 3,000 successful visa petitions for high skilled international talent.
But as a company renowned for innovation, Amazon shows no signs of slowing down their global expansion plans for 2024.
In this comprehensive guide, we analyze all the key details and updates on Amazon‘s various work visa programs, to help you understand the current landscape for international candidates.
A Quick Look at Amazon‘s Visa Sponsorship Growth
First, let‘s examine just how significantly Amazon‘s investment in global mobility programs has risen in recent years:
| Year | Total Visa Approvals | % Growth from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,416 | – |
| 2019 | 1,952 | +38% |
| 2020 | 2,522 | +29% |
| 2021 | 2, 784 | +10% |
| 2022 | 2,938 | + 5% |
Data Source: U.S Office of Foreign Labor Certification
As you can see, the total number of approved H-1B, L-1 and E-1 visas filed by Amazon has more than doubled over the past 5 years.
This accelerated growth outpaces the likes of top technology companies such as Google, Intel and Apple over the same period…
Eligibility Criteria Across Visa Types
Now that you know Amazon is heavily invested in work visa sponsorships, let‘s compare eligibility across some key visa categories:
| Visa Type | Key Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| H-1B | – Bachelor‘s degree or higher – Specialty occupation, e.g. Programmer, AI Researcher |
| L-1A (Executives/Managers) | – Managerial experience 1 out of past 3 years – Overseeing staff, strategic initiatives |
| L-1B (Specialized Knowledge) | – Advanced proprietary knowledge – Difficult to impart to U.S. worker |
| E-1 (Treaty Trader) | – From nation with relevant treaty – Manager, executive or essential employee engaged in trade |
You can see each category serves a distinct purpose. The criteria ensure candidates have the required skills, experience and credentials before international transfer.
Litigation and Changes Impacting H-1B in 2024
Key developments that could significantly impact H-1B applicants this year include:
Lottery Selection Lawsuits: 3 companies have filed lawsuits to argue that the annual visa lottery should favor those with U.S. advanced degrees. If successful, this could considerably improve chances for candidates meeting that criteria.
6 year Visa Rule Changes: Upcoming amendments proposed by USCIS seek to restrict H-1B extensions beyond 6 years for individuals still progressing their Green Card applications. This could force some to consider status changes.
So candidates should closely track litigation outcomes and policy updates this year to plan accordingly.
Based on the exponential growth in Amazon‘s visa sponsorships so far, I anticipate even more elevated demand for top international talent across critical technology and leadership roles in 2024…
My Perspective: 3 Reasons Why Visa Offer Rates May Rise
In my opinion as a Global Mobility strategist, here are 3 compelling reasons why chances of receiving a visa sponsorship offer from Amazon seem higher than ever for qualified candidates:
Rapid International Expansion Plans: With new corporate offices slated to open in UAE and Israel, plus 16 data center developments underway across Europe and Asia, Amazon will surely need to relocate more exceptional employees abroad.
Increasing Hiring Budgets Year-Over-Year: For 2023, Amazon‘s capital expenditures and headcount budgets have increased over 20% and 30% respectively year-over-year. Much of this is for roles potentially requiring visa transfers.
Growing Demand for Niche Skill Sets: As Amazon diversifies into emerging technologies like AI, Quantum Computing, Robotics and more – the need for researchers and scientists with truly specialized expertise continues rising rapidly. These skills warrant increased rates of global mobility offers.
In closing, I believe Amazon‘s visa programs will continue on a sharp growth trajectory for the foreseeable future. So for highly skilled internationals with expertise in Amazon‘s business, technology and innovation areas, the prospects seem brighter than ever!
