Indian-origin American diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui has called for an immediate pause on the United States’ H-1B visa programme, alleging widespread fraud, bribery and abuse that she says undermines American workers and the integrity of the system.

In an article written for the Center for Immigration Studies, Siddiqui said her concerns are based on first-hand experience during her posting as a junior visa officer at the US Consulate in Chennai. She claimed the H-1B programme, originally designed to attract highly skilled global talent, has morphed into what she described as a “de facto immigration shortcut dominated by one country”.

Allegations Of Fake Degrees And Bribery

Siddiqui alleged that fake academic degrees, forged bank statements and fabricated marriage and birth certificates are openly sold in parts of Hyderabad, particularly Ameerpet, to support what she termed an “industrialised H-1B scam”. According to her, bribery, or “rishwat”, and the social acceptance of fraud have enabled underqualified applicants to game the system. She wrote that many H-1B applicants claiming computer science degrees lacked basic programming knowledge and often failed elementary coding tests. Siddiqui further alleged that corrupt human resources officials in both India and the US helped facilitate fake employment letters, allowing such candidates to bypass scrutiny.

The diplomat argued that the alleged misuse of the H-1B programme has directly harmed American IT and STEM graduates. She claimed that US-trained professionals, who undergo rigorous academic and technical training, are increasingly being displaced by cheaper foreign labour or are forced to train their H-1B replacements at lower pay. In the US, Siddiqui alleged that some Indian-origin managers have created insular hiring networks that favour their own communities, exclude Americans and discourage whistleblowing. She described this as an “honour among thieves” culture that protects unqualified hires and perpetuates abuse of the visa system.

Chennai Named ‘Fraud Capital’

In an earlier podcast, Siddiqui referred to Chennai as the “H-1B visa fraud capital of the world”, recalling that between 2005 and 2007, the consulate adjudicated around 1,00,000 H-1B applications annually. She claimed that demand has since surged to over 4,00,000 applications per year, intensifying the risk of fraud. She also extended her criticism beyond the IT sector, alleging that some Indian medical graduates who entered US residency programmes on J-1 visas were admitted to colleges through bribery or affirmative action, raising concerns about skill standards.

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Siddiqui accused Indian lobbyists and sections of Silicon Valley of misleading US lawmakers by portraying American workers as less capable. She said Congress is often unaware of the realities on the ground. Among her recommendations, Siddiqui called for a temporary halt on new H-1B visa issuances until a full audit is conducted. She also urged stricter verification of degrees and work experience, prioritisation of US STEM graduates where domestic talent is sufficient, tougher penalties for fraud, a ban on nepotistic hiring practices and expanded site inspections.

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The US State Department has not yet responded publicly to Siddiqui’s claims. The issue is likely to add fuel to the ongoing debate in Washington over immigration, skilled visas and protection of domestic jobs.