Devon Yacht Club Restores Dining After Visa Issue Sends Kitchen Staff Home
The Devon Yacht Club in Amagansett has resumed food service after eight foreign kitchen workers returned to the U.S. with approved H-2B visas.
After a two-day pause, the Devon Yacht Club in Amagansett resumed its restaurant operations on Wednesday, citing the return of its displaced kitchen crew. Eight employees on H-2B temporary work visas were compelled to depart the United States due to a paperwork error, leaving the club without its culinary team. General manager John R. Newman announced that visa approvals arrived late Friday, allowing most of the original staff to come back and restore full service.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security clarified that neither Customs and Border Protection nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement took part in the incident. The club’s letter to members suggested the problem stemmed from an oversight by the petition’s agent, attorney, or the immigration office itself. With the kitchen team back, the club aims to finish the summer season without further interruption.
Why it matters
It shows how visa processing errors can disrupt high-end hospitality services and affect seasonal employment.
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