You've probably heard the rumors that Big Tech is closing its doors to international talent. With layoffs making headlines and the political climate shifting faster than a TikTok trend, it’s easy to feel like the American Dream is on a permanent "pause" button. But here is the reality: Amazon is still the single largest H-1B sponsor in the United States.
They aren't just dabbling in it. In the first half of 2025 alone, Amazon Com Services LLC secured over 10,000 H-1B approvals. That’s a massive number. When you add in Amazon Web Services (AWS) and their data subsidiaries, the scale is honestly staggering. But "sponsoring" a visa and actually getting you into a seat in Seattle or Arlington are two very different things in 2026.
If you're eyeing a Software Development Engineer (SDE) role or a Data Science position, you need to know that the rules of the game just changed. We aren't in the "random lottery" era anymore.
The New 2026 Reality: It’s Not Just a Lottery Anymore
For years, getting an H-1B was basically like playing the Powerball. You put your name in, crossed your fingers, and hoped for the best.
Not anymore.
As of February 27, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security officially shifted to a wage-weighted selection process. This is a huge deal. Instead of everyone having the same shot, the system now prioritizes people getting paid more. If Amazon offers you a Level 4 wage (the highest tier), you essentially get four entries in the pool. If you're a fresh grad at Level 1, you only get one.
Amazon is adapted to this. They’ve been aggressively pushing their compensation packages higher to ensure their "must-have" talent actually wins the lottery. In 2025, the median salary for Amazon's H-1B holders in computer-related roles was hovering between $106,000 and $150,000, with specialized AI researchers pulling in upwards of $270,000.
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Basically, if Amazon wants you, they are going to pay you enough to make sure the government likes your application.
Does Amazon Sponsor H1B for Every Role?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: They are very picky about what counts as a "Specialty Occupation." You aren't going to get an H-1B to work in a fulfillment center or a standard HR role. The USCIS is cracking down on "generic" roles. To get Amazon to foot the bill—and it’s a big bill now—the job has to require highly specialized knowledge.
We’re talking:
- Software Development (SDE I, II, and III)
- Applied Science and Machine Learning
- Solutions Architecture
- Product Management (Technical)
- Specialized Business Intelligence
If you’re a fresh graduate on F-1 OPT, Amazon is usually pretty good about starting the process early. I’ve seen cases where people joined in March and the recruiters were already scrambling to get their info for the lottery filing. But don't just assume it’s happening. You’ve got to be proactive. Talk to your recruiter before you even sign the offer.
The $100,000 Elephant in the Room
There is a new hurdle that’s scaring a lot of smaller companies, but Amazon seems to be taking it in stride. The government introduced a massive $100,000 U.S. entry fee for certain new H-1B holders.
Here is the catch: this fee mostly targets people being hired from outside the U.S. If you are already here on a student visa (F-1) and doing a "Change of Status," you usually avoid this cost. This is why Amazon is focusing so heavily on recruiting from U.S. universities right now. It's simply cheaper for them to hire a Master's student from Georgia Tech than to fly someone in from Bangalore or Berlin.
Green Cards and the "PERM" Pause
Here is where things get a bit messy. While Amazon is the king of H-1B, their track record with Green Cards (Permanent Residency) has been a bit rocky lately.
Back in 2024 and 2025, Amazon—along with Google—paused a lot of their "PERM" filings. This is the first step of the Green Card process. Why? Because when a company does big layoffs, the Department of Labor makes it incredibly hard to prove that there aren't "willing and able" U.S. workers to do the job.
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However, things are starting to thaw. Internal memos suggest that for 2026, Amazon is ramping these filings back up for high-level employees. If you're a Level 4 or above, your chances are much better. If you're entry-level (Level 3 or below), you might be waiting a while. Honestly, it’s a point of frustration for many "Amazonians" who feel stuck in visa limbo.
What Happens if You Don't Win the Lottery?
This is the nightmare scenario. You’re at Amazon, you’ve got your blue badge, you love the 401k, but the lottery didn't pick you.
Amazon is actually one of the few companies with a solid "Plan B." They have a massive global footprint, so they often "export" talent to Vancouver, Toronto, or Dublin for a year or two. You work there, stay on the payroll, and they try the lottery for you again the following year.
Recently, they’ve even been a bit flexible with remote work for people stuck in visa backlogs. There was a temporary policy allowing some India-based staff to work remotely until March 2026 while they waited for consular appointments. But it’s not a vacation. Those workers were strictly prohibited from "coding or deploying software" due to tax and compliance laws. It’s a mess, but at least they didn't lose their jobs.
The AI Shift: Andy Jassy’s Warning
You should also keep an eye on what the CEO is saying. Andy Jassy has been pretty open about the fact that AI is going to reduce the total corporate workforce over the next few years.
While H-1B demand is still high, the type of person Amazon sponsors is shifting. They want "force multipliers." If you can use AI to do the work of three junior devs, Amazon will fight for your visa. If you’re just a standard coder, you might find the sponsorship door a lot heavier than it used to be.
Practical Steps to Secure Your Sponsorship
If you want to be part of the 10,000+ people Amazon sponsors this year, you can't just wing it.
- Target the Right Entity: Most H-1Bs go through "Amazon.com Services LLC" or "Amazon Web Services Inc." Make sure your offer is coming from a unit with a history of sponsorship.
- Negotiate Your Wage Level: With the new 2026 weighted lottery, being "Level 2" instead of "Level 1" isn't just about the money—it literally doubles your chances of getting the visa.
- Check the PERM Status: During your interview, ask specifically: "What is the current policy for PERM filings for this job level?" Don't accept a vague "we sponsor everyone" answer.
- Get Your Docs in Early: The registration window usually opens in March. If you don't have your degree evaluation and passport ready by February, you're toast.
Amazon is still the biggest player in the H-1B game, but they are a business first. They sponsor talent because they need to build the future of AWS and retail, not out of the goodness of their hearts. As long as you are specialized and high-earning, the path is there.
To move forward, you should audit your current job title and salary against the 2026 DOL Prevailing Wage tiers to see where you land in the new weighted lottery system.