Former U.S. Congressman and economist Dr. Dave Brat has made explosive allegations regarding the H-1B visa program, accusing it of widespread fraud and claiming that a single region in India received visas far beyond the legal annual cap.
Speaking on Steve Bannon’s podcast, Dr. Brat stated that although the official U.S. limit for H-1B visas is 85,000 per year, one Indian district alone was allegedly connected to 220,000 H-1B visas, which he described as two-and-a-half times the national limit. He argued that such numbers signal systemic abuse of the program.
“When you hear H-1B, think of your family, because these fraudulent visas just stole their future,” Brat said. He also claimed that China accounts for only about 12% of the H-1B visa pool, while India dominates the program.
According to reports, the U.S. Consulate in Chennai processed approximately 220,000 H-1B visas and 140,000 H-4 dependent visas in 2024 alone, drawing renewed scrutiny to its operations.
Spotlight on Chennai Consulate After Former Diplomat’s Allegations
The controversy intensified following revelations by Mahvash Siddiqui, an Indian-origin U.S. Foreign Service officer, who previously served at the Chennai consulate. She described what she called “industrial-scale fraud” in the H-1B visa process.
Siddiqui claimed that during her posting between 2005 and 2007, she personally adjudicated over 51,000 H-1B visa applications. According to her, an estimated 80–90% of applications during that period contained falsified information, including fake academic qualifications, forged documentation, or misrepresentation of skills.
The consulate at that time handled applications from Hyderabad, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, she said, adding that Hyderabad emerged as the most problematic hub.
Hyderabad’s Ameerpet Allegedly a Hub for Forged Documents
Siddiqui revealed that the Ameerpet area in Hyderabad had developed into a full-fledged underground industry for visa fraud. She claimed candidates could openly purchase:
- Fake educational degrees
- Forged marriage certificates
- Fabricated employment records
These services, she alleged, were used to manipulate H-1B visa approvals.
Political Pressure and Suppression of Anti-Fraud Efforts
According to Siddiqui, once the fraud patterns were identified and reported, the response from higher authorities was not supportive. She claimed that their internal investigations were branded as a “rogue operation”, and intense political pressure was exerted to halt deeper probes.
She further alleged that political figures were involved in shielding the network, preventing investigators from fully dismantling the fraud pipeline.
Growing Global Debate Over H-1B Integrity
The fresh allegations from Brat and Siddiqui have reignited debate in the U.S. over:
- The integrity of the H-1B visa program
- Oversight at overseas U.S. consulates
- The balance between skilled immigration and domestic job protection
While official investigations have yet to confirm many of these claims publicly, the controversy is likely to fuel renewed demands for stricter verification, auditing, and reform of the H-1B system.
