H-1B visa scam in Chennai: US Economist alleges 2,20,000 visas, double the US cap
The most striking allegation made by Dr. Dave Brat concerns the volume of visas processed in Chennai. He stated that while US law allocates only 85,000 H-1B visas annually, the consulate in Chennai alone processed a staggering 220,000 (2.2 lakh) visas in 2024.
Washington: A former US Congressman and economist has levelled explosive allegations of "massive fraud" within the H-1B visa program, specifically targeting the US Consulate in Chennai, claiming it processed more than double the annual national cap from a single Indian city. The claims by Dr. Dave Brat add fuel to an already intense debate in the United States, where the Trump administration is implementing stricter policies and higher fees for the skilled worker visa.
The Core Allegation: 220,000 Visas from One City Versus an 85,000 Cap
The most striking allegation made by Dr. Brat concerns the volume of visas processed in Chennai. He stated that while US law allocates only 85,000 H-1B visas annually, the consulate in Chennai alone processed a staggering 220,000 (2.2 lakh) visas in 2024. "This is 2.5 times more than the maximum limit set by the US. This is a scam," he asserted during a podcast interview. He further highlighted that India receives 71% of all H-1B visas, compared to China's 12%, as an indicator that "something is wrong."
"A Professional Scam": Allegations of Fake Documents and Systemic Abuse
Dr. Brat characterized the entire system as a "professional scam," alleging that many who secure these visas do not possess the high skills they claim. "They are taking away jobs that should be available to Americans," he said. His allegations echo earlier, more detailed claims made by Mahvash Siddique, a US Foreign Service officer of Indian origin. Siddique reported that while reviewing tens of thousands of visas at the Chennai consulate between 2005 and 2007, she found that 80-90% were fraudulent.
According to Siddique, the fraud was centered around areas like Ameerpet in Hyderabad, where entities were openly "training visa applicants and selling fake employment letters, educational certificates, and even marriage certificates." She claimed that attempts to crack down on this widespread fraud faced significant political pressure and backlash.
The Chennai Consulate's Role and the Broader Political Clampdown
The US Consulate in Chennai is the primary processing hub for H-1B applications from four major southern Indian states: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana, which explains its high volume. In addition to the 220,000 H-1B visas, the consulate also processed 140,000 H-4 dependent visas in 2024. These allegations emerge as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on the H-1B program, having recently increased visa fees and imposed new restrictions, arguing that the system is being exploited to the detriment of American workers.