A former US Foreign Service officer has alleged widespread abuse of the H-1B visa program, claiming that weak oversight and organised fraud networks in India have allowed thousands of underqualified applicants to enter the American workforce over the past two decades.
The allegations were made by Mahvash Siddiqui, a US Foreign Service Officer with more than 21 years of experience, in an article published by the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based immigration policy think tank.
Drawing from her posting at the US Consulate in Chennai in the mid-2000s, Siddiqui writes that the city handled one of the world’s largest volumes of H-1B visa cases. She states that visa officers processed hundreds of applications daily, often with limited authority to challenge petitions that had already received approval from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a result, denials were rare and post-approval revocations were time-consuming and infrequently pursued.
According to the article, organised document fraud thrived in parts of India, particularly in Hyderabad’s Ameerpet area, where forged academic degrees, employment records, and financial documents were allegedly sold openly. Siddiqui claims that many applicants lacked formal training in computer science or related fields despite presenting credentials that suggested otherwise, and that corrupt intermediaries, including recruiters and HR personnel, enabled fraudulent filings.
The article further alleges that hiring practices within segments of the US technology industry have reinforced these vulnerabilities. Siddiqui argues that ethnic-based hiring networks, particularly involving Indian-origin managers, have contributed to the concentration of Indian nationals in H-1B roles while limiting opportunities for American workers. She disputes the claim that H-1B employees are consistently hired at lower wages, citing salary data that shows comparable or higher median earnings in several technology roles.
Beyond the technology sector, Siddiqui raises concerns about medical and academic pathways. She writes that Indian nationals entering the US on J-1 medical visas or F-1 student visas often transition into long-term employment through Optional Practical Training (OPT) and H-1B sponsorship, despite what she describes as insufficient vetting of credentials. She also criticises limited site inspections by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), calling enforcement inadequate given the size of the program.
The article cites figures indicating that roughly 400,000 H-1B petitions were approved in FY2024, with Indian nationals accounting for more than 70 percent of recipients. Siddiqui argues that this level of concentration raises concerns not only for US labour markets but also for cybersecurity and national security, particularly when visa holders work on government-linked contracts.
Referencing multiple US prosecutions involving IT services firms and staffing companies, the article contends that visa fraud is systemic rather than isolated.
Siddiqui concludes by urging a comprehensive audit of the H-1B program. Her recommendations include a temporary pause on new H-1B issuances, stricter verification of Indian educational and employment credentials, expanded site inspections, penalties for fraud, and hiring policies that prioritise domestic graduates where qualified US talent is available.
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