Former U.S. Congressman and economist Dr. Dave Brat sharply criticized India’s dominance in the H-1B visa program, pointing to what he called an imbalance in the system, saying, “captured by industrial-scale fraud.” He argued that although the annual federal cap for H-1B visas is 85,000, a single district in India reportedly secured nearly 220,000 visas, more than double the national limit.
Appearing on Steve Bannon’s podcast, Dr. Brat intensified his criticism, warning American families to consider the broader implications of the visa program. “When you hear H-1B, think of your family, because these fraudulent visas just stole their future,” he said, arguing that the current system disproportionately benefits certain countries. He claimed that China accounts for just about 12 percent of all H-1B issuances, while India dominates the program.
According to reported estimates, Chennai alone processed approximately 220,000 H-1B visas in 2024, along with about 140,000 H-4 visas for dependents, figures that have intensified the debate over whether the program continues to serve its intended purpose.
“71 per cent of H-1B visas come from India, and only 12 per cent from China. That tells you something’s going on right there,” Brat claimed. “There’s a cap of only 85,000 H-1B visas, yet somehow one district in India — the Madras (Chennai) district — got 220,000. That’s 2.5 times the cap Congress has set. So that’s the scam.”
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U.S. diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui, an Indian American Foreign Service Officer, has raised concerns about systemic abuse within the H-1B visa program, recalling her experience at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai two decades. Siddiqui claimed that during her tenure, a significant portion of applicants from India did not meet the program’s standards. According to her, “80 to 90 percent of the H-1B cases involved either fake degrees, forged documents, or individuals who did not qualify as highly skilled,” making them ineligible under the program’s original intent.
Siddiqui recalled that she was stationed at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai between 2005 and 2007, during which she personally adjudicated at least 51,000 H-1B visas. She explained that the consulate handled applications from four major regions—Hyderabad, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but one stood out. According to her, “Hyderabad was the most concerning,” particularly due to activities in the Ameerpet area, which she described as an organized marketplace for visa manipulation. She further revealed, the area had shops that went beyond basic visa guidance, allegedly helping applicants fabricate supporting documents such as educational credentials and even marriage certificates.
She added that she and her team quickly identified recurring fraud patterns and escalated concerns to the administration. However, their efforts were met with resistance. Their anti-fraud drive was called a “rogue operation,” she said, noting that there was enough political pressure surrounding the issue. Siddiqui further claimed that even many politicians were involved in the operation, and there was pressure on her team “not to pursue their investigation.”
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“As an Indian-American, I hate to say this, but fraud and bribery are normalized in India,” Siddiqui added.
Siddiqui further described how some visa applicants reportedly tried to circumvent scrutiny by skipping interviews scheduled with American officers, while in other cases, proxy candidates allegedly appeared in place of the actual applicants. She also claimed that certain hiring managers in India were involved in pay-to-play schemes, where job offers used to support H-1B visa petitions, were issued in exchange for money.
The criticism comes at a time when the President Donald Trump has publicly expressed backing for the H-1B program, a visa route heavily used by Indian professionals, emphasizing that the country relies on global talent to address shortages in its domestic workforce.
Over the past few years, both the H-1B and F-1 student visa programs have come under fire from several MAGA-aligned conservatives, who argue that these pathways are being misused and ultimately disadvantage American professionals.
In 2024, Indian citizens made up an estimated 70 percent of all H-1B visa holders, reinforcing India’s position as the leading contributor of skilled workers to the U.S. labor market. This dominance has increasingly drawn political attention and has been under scrutiny since then.