Allegations of massive H-1B visa fraud linked to Chennai consulate stir global debate
A former US Congressman and a former Chennai consular officer have claimed that around 220,000 H-1B visas were issued via the Chennai consulate to a single Indian district in 2024, far exceeding the official yearly cap and prompting serious allegations of visa fraud and misuse.
In late November 2025, former US Congressman and economist Dave Brat accused the H-1B visa system of being subject to large scale abuse claiming that a single district in India received roughly 220,000 H-1B visas despite the national cap being 85,000 per year. He described the situation as evidence of fraud undermining legitimate access to US jobs and hurting applications from other countries.
The chorus of criticism strengthened when former US consular officer in Chennai, Mahvash Siddiqui, claimed that during her tenure between 2005 and 2007 many Indian applications involved forged degrees, fake employment letters or applicants lacking the required skills.
She alleged that as many as 80–90 percent of H-1B applications from India were fraudulent. Siddiqui said that during her posting she adjudicated over 50,000 visas and repeatedly flagged irregularities. She said her warnings were reportedly ignored and her anti-fraud efforts dismissed on political grounds.
Recent visa records indicate the Chennai consulate processed about 220,000 H-1B visas along with 140,000 dependent H-4 visas in 2024, making it one of the busiest visa posts globally. Critics now question how such a high volume could pass scrutiny and whether necessary checks were bypassed.
The allegations have reignited international debate over the integrity of the H-1B programme and raised demand for stronger oversight and stricter verification of credentials. Many observers view these claims as a signal for policy reform and tighter US immigration regulation.
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