Indian-American diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui has raised serious concerns over misuse of the H1B visa program by some Indian applicants. Speaking on a podcast, Siddiqui revealed that a large number of applications, especially from Hyderabad, involve forged documents, fake degrees, and unqualified candidates. She claimed that systematic fraud and nepotism are used to get undeserving individuals approved for H1B visas.
Siddiqui, who served as a consular officer at the US Consulate in Chennai between 2005 and 2007, shared that Hyderabad’s Ameerpet area is a major hub for such fraudulent activities. She alleged that nearly 80–90% of H1B visa applications from India, particularly from states like Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, involved some form of fraud.
“As an Indian-American, I hate to say this, but fraud and bribery are normalised in India,” she stated. According to her, fake candidates even skipped interviews when Americans were on the panel or used proxies. She further alleged that some Indian managers in the US offered jobs to Indian applicants in return for money.
Siddiqui emphasized that despite the Chennai consulate raising internal concerns and even sending a dissent cable to the Secretary of State, their efforts to curb fraud were dismissed due to political pressure. Their anti-fraud operations were labeled as “rogue,” implying involvement of powerful political figures.
The H1B visa program remains a crucial pathway for skilled professionals to work in the U.S., with India being a significant source country. Despite recent restrictions and increased costs introduced during Donald Trump’s presidency, the program continues to be widely used by American tech companies to bring in talent from abroad.
