Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:47pm on 19 Dec 2025,Friday India Global
Indian-origin US diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui has alleged widespread fraud in the H-1B visa programme, claiming unqualified Indian applicants exploit bribery (“rishwat”) and fake credentials to enter the US. Writing for the Centre for Immigrant Studies, she cited her experience at the US Consulate in Chennai described as the “H-1B fraud capital” where applications surged from 1 lakh annually in 2005–07 to over 40 lakhs today. Siddiqui accused corrupt HR officials, fake degree markets in Hyderabad, and insular Indian hiring networks in the US of displacing qualified American workers. She urged a pause on new H-1B issuances, stricter verification, penalties for fraud, and expanded site inspections, warning the programme has become a de-facto immigration shortcut. (PC: India Today)
