A viral post on X has reignited debate over the H-1B visa program by arguing that homeownership trends among Indian nationals challenge the idea that the visa is truly temporary.
The post points to billions of dollars in residential property purchases, long-term mortgage approvals and decades-long green card backlogs as evidence that financial institutions already view many H-1B workers as permanent residents in practice.
The post begins with a bold claim: “INDIAN NATIONALS PURCHASED $2.2 BILLION OF US HOMES LAST YEAR.” It then adds, “Always follow the money. Nobody believes the H-1B visa is temporary. Not even the banks.”
The argument is based on data from the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 report, which found that Indian buyers purchased $2.2 billion worth of U.S. residential real estate over the past year. According to the report, 97% of those buyers were already living in the United States when they bought their homes. It also found that 66% purchased a primary residence, the highest share among the leading countries of origin for international homebuyers.
Unlike many foreign buyers who pay entirely in cash, Indian buyers were more likely to finance their purchases. The report cited in the post says they had the lowest all-cash purchase rate among the top five countries, while 57% obtained mortgages from U.S. lenders.
The post questions why banks are willing to approve standard 30-year mortgages for people whose H-1B visas are typically granted in three-year increments. “A 30 year mortgage against a visa issued 3 years at a time only makes sense one way: the lender expects the borrower to stay,” it states.
READ: ‘1,880 landlords reported’: Viral claims fuel fresh scrutiny of H-1B visa holders’ homes
It further points to lending policies at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, arguing that both government-sponsored enterprises purchase qualifying loans made to non-permanent residents under the same standards available to US citizens. Quoting Fannie Mae’s Selling Guide, the post says such loans are purchased “under the same terms that are available to U.S. citizens.”
It then asks, “How does a 3 year visa clear a 30 year loan?”
According to the post, the answer lies in the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act (AC21), enacted in 2000. Under the law, many H-1B workers with employment-based green card applications pending beyond certain stages can continue extending their H-1B status in one-year or three-year increments after reaching the standard six-year limit.
The post argues, “Because the 6 year ‘limit’ has a loophole. Under a 2000 law called AC21, once a green card case has been pending a year, the H-1B renews in 1 or 3 year increments with no cap on renewals. File for a green card and the temporary visa becomes indefinite.”
It also links the issue to the decades-long employment-based green card backlog faced by Indian nationals. Citing research from the Cato Institute, the post states, “The green card queue is 1.1 million Indians deep, and CATO puts the wait for new applicants at 134 years. ‘Pending’ means forever, so the visa renews forever.” The estimate reflects projections under the current employment-based green card system, where per-country caps have created significant delays for Indian applicants.
The post also references US Citizenship and Immigration Services data to argue that most H-1B approvals are issued to workers already employed in the United States rather than new arrivals. “USCIS’s own numbers show it: 65% of FY2024 H-1B approvals were continuations for people already here, not new arrivals, “it says.
Drawing these points together, the post concludes that lenders are already factoring immigration realities into their lending decisions. “Underwriters see all of this. A pending green card counts as evidence the income will continue. The mortgage industry looked at ‘temporary’ and priced it as permanent.”