Indian-American Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Double H-1B Visa Numbers

Amid growing scrutiny of the H-1B visa programme under the Trump administration and recent allegations of fraud, Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has reintroduced the High-Skilled Immigration Reform for Employment (HIRE) Act. The bill proposes to double the annual H-1B visa cap from 65,000 to 130,000, with the goal of strengthening the United States’ technological and economic leadership.

Currently, an additional 20,000 H-1B visas are set aside for applicants holding advanced degrees from U.S. institutions. All visas are distributed through a lottery system. Congressman Krishnamoorthi emphasized the nation’s need to attract global talent to remain competitive in emerging sectors while also bolstering the domestic workforce.

The HIRE Act is expected to impact hiring practices in sectors such as technology, healthcare, and research. Alongside increasing visa caps, the bill includes provisions to enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education funding in U.S. schools, helping to nurture local talent from an early age.

Supporters, including IT industry group ITServe Alliance, hailed the bill as critical to maintaining American innovation. ITServe leaders Raghu Chittimalla and Anju Vallabhaneni stated the Act supports the balance between accessing global talent and protecting American workers. They believe the legislation promotes fairness, transparency, and sustainable workforce development.

However, the initiative comes at a controversial time. Former Congressman Dave Brat and diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui recently reported widespread fraud in H-1B applications, particularly at the Chennai consulate, with claims that 80–90% of Indian applications were fraudulent. These claims further fuel ongoing debates around reforming the H-1B system.

H-1B visa, HIRE Act, Raja Krishnamoorthi, US immigration policy, ITServe Alliance