H-1B Visa Fraud Allegations: Chennai’s Explosive Role in US Work Visa Program

Key Highlights:

• Chennai district allegedly received 220,000 H-1B visas in 2024, nearly 2.5 times the US statutory cap of 85,000.
• India accounts for 71% of all US H-1B visa approvals, vastly exceeding other countries.
• Fraud allegations include fake employer letters, forged educational degrees, and proxy visa interviews, intensifying scrutiny of the program.

Opening Overview

The H-1B visa program, pivotal to America’s skilled labor intake, especially from India, has come under intense scrutiny due to fresh allegations of large-scale fraud. Claims by former US Congressman Dave Brat and ex-Chennai consular officer Mahvash Siddiqui allege that the Chennai district alone processed 220,000 H-1B visas in 2024—far surpassing the US government’s statutory cap of 85,000. This surge, combined with further accusations that a significant portion of these visa applications were fraudulent, has cast doubt on the integrity and security of the visa issuance system.

DR. DAVE BRAT: 71% of H-1B visas come from India. The national cap is 85,000, yet one Indian district got 220,000! That's 2.5x the limit!

When you hear H-1B, think of your family, because these fraudulent visas just stole their future.@brateconomics pic.twitter.com/8O1v8qVJPe

— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) November 24, 2025

India dominates the H-1B landscape, contributing roughly 71% of all H-1B visa beneficiaries in 2024. The program, originally designed to allow US companies to hire skilled foreign professionals temporarily, is now at the center of allegations including forged documents and proxy interviews. These claims come amid tightening immigration policies under the current US administration, intensifying concerns over the impact on American workers and visa integrity. The allegations highlight systemic vulnerabilities and potential policy shortcomings, raising urgent questions about oversight in the H-1B program.​

Chennai’s Oversized H-1B Visa Allocation

• Chennai district reportedly issued 220,000 H-1B visas in 2024, far exceeding the nationwide cap of 85,000.
• The Chennai consulate processes applications from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana, making it one of the busiest visa centers globally.

The Chennai district’s alleged issuance of 220,000 H-1B visas in fiscal year 2024 starkly contrasts with the 85,000 visa cap Congress set for the entire United States. This discrepancy has sparked widespread questions about the legality and accuracy of visa numbers reported from this region. The Chennai consulate serves as the primary processing hub for several Southern Indian states, making it a focal point for US work visa applications. However, such an extraordinary number—over two and a half times the federal limit—raises concerns of irregularities and oversight failures within the processing system.

This spike in visa numbers is not aligned with official US government statistics, which cap new H-1B visa approvals at 85,000 annually, excluding renewals and cap-exempt categories. The Mumbai and Hyderabad consulates, meanwhile, face related but distinct allegations of fraud and malpractice, often involving coaching centers selling counterfeit credentials. The enormity of the Chennai figure indicates potential manipulation of the system, which experts say could represent industrial-scale fraud.​

India’s Dominance and the Broader H-1B Context

• India accounts for 71% of all H-1B approvals in 2024, far ahead of the second-largest country, China (12%).
• Nearly 400,000 H-1B petitions were approved in 2024, including renewals and exempt categories.
• The program is critical for US companies, especially in the tech and healthcare sectors, for sourcing skilled labor.

India’s overwhelming share in the H-1B visa program reflects its status as the largest supplier of skilled foreign workers to the United States. In fiscal 2024, Indians received approximately 283,397 H-1B visa approvals—about 71% of the total approvals that year. China followed distantly with roughly 12%. The data includes both new visa grants and renewals, contributing to a total near 400,000 petitions approved under the program.

The H-1B visa program plays a vital role in filling high-skilled jobs in American firms, particularly in technology, engineering, and healthcare sectors. While this reliance benefits US companies facing domestic talent shortages, it also fuels political debates about job displacement and wage suppression. The program is tightly regulated, yet annual caps and quotas have struggled to keep pace with demand, contributing to the controversies surrounding visa issuance numbers and fraud allegations.​

Fraud Allegations and Systemic Vulnerabilities

• Indian-American diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui says 80–90% of H-1B visas issued to Indians are fraudulent.
• Common fraud tactics include fake employer letters, forged educational degrees, and proxy interviews.
• Training hubs in Hyderabad reportedly coach applicants on fraudulent practices to secure visas.

The fraud allegations stem not only from numbers but also from the quality and legitimacy of the applications themselves. Former Indian-American diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui, who served at the Chennai consulate, has alleged that 80 to 90% of H-1B visas issued to Indian applicants are obtained through fraudulent means. These include forged employer sponsorship letters, fake educational certificates, and proxies attending visa interviews on behalf of the real applicants.

Siddiqui points to Hyderabad’s Ameerpet and similar training hubs where visa hopefuls allegedly buy counterfeit documents and receive coaching to pass the US consulate’s screening. Such organized fraud rings undermine the visa system’s integrity and disadvantage genuinely qualified workers. The revelations have underlined the urgent need for enhanced verification protocols, cross-agency collaboration, and legislative reforms to safeguard the H-1B program from exploitation.​

Closing Assessment

The recent allegations of industrial-scale fraud tied to the Chennai district’s H-1B visa issuance have intensified scrutiny of a program fundamentally important to the US labor market. With India providing over 70% of H-1B visa beneficiaries annually, the stakes are high for both Indian workers and American employers. The disparity between the legal cap and the alleged visa issuance numbers from Chennai signals either a critical reporting error or systemic abuse.

The reported prevalence of forged documents and proxy interviews calls for immediate policy review and tighter enforcement mechanisms to protect the program’s credibility. Such reforms are essential to balance the benefits of skilled immigration with safeguarding American workers’ interests. The H-1B visa controversies highlight the vulnerabilities of complex immigration systems and the need for transparent, accountable visa administration practices.

H-1B Visa Approvals by Country in Fiscal Year 2024