- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:24 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Former US Congressman and economist Dave Brat has sparked a major controversy by alleging large-scale fraud in the H-1B skilled worker visa programme, claiming that a single Indian district issued far more visas than are legally allowed nationwide. Speaking on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, Brat said the visa system had been overtaken by “industrial-scale fraud” dominated overwhelmingly by Indian-origin applicants.
The H-1B visa programme, capped at 85,000 visas per year, allows US companies to hire foreign skilled workers, especially in technology and engineering. For years, Indian nationals have received over 70 per cent of all H-1B visas, while China accounts for only 10–12 per cent.
Brat alleged that this imbalance itself signalled irregularities. “Around 71 per cent of H-1Bs go to India. That tells you something’s going on,” he said.
Trump’s New Restrictions Add Fuel To Debate
After returning to the White House, President Donald Trump imposed a hefty USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visas as part of his intensified “America First” approach. The move has sharply divided public opinion, praised by groups seeking tighter immigration controls and criticised by US tech giants dependent on global talent.
Brat said American families must understand the stakes, “These fraudulent visas stole their future. Someone comes over claiming they’re skilled, they’re not. They just took away your job, mortgage and house.”
Former US Diplomat Echoes Fraud Allegations
Brat’s comments follow similar claims by Indian-American diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui, who worked at the US Consulate in Chennai (2005–2007). In a recent podcast, Siddiqui alleged that 80–90 per cent of H-1B visas issued to Indians during that period were fraudulent.
According to her, applicants frequently used:
Fake degrees
Forged employment documents
Misleading work histories
Applications from unqualified individuals
She described widespread attempts to exploit loopholes in the programme, especially through regional networks that produced counterfeit paperwork. Although no official US government data supports Brat’s claim about 220,000 visas from one district, his remarks come at a time when H-1B reforms are under scrutiny.