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https://cis.org/Parsing-Immigration-Policy/Industrialized-Fraud-H1B-Visa-Program

‘Industrialized’ Fraud in the H-1B Visa Program
Parsing Immigration Policy, Episode 231

Summary: In the latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies, sits down with Mahvash Siddiqui, a U.S. Foreign Service officer, to discuss systemic fraud in the H-1B visa program. Speaking in her private capacity, Ms. Siddiqui shares firsthand experiences from her time as a consular officer in Chennai (Madras), India – one of the world’s largest H-1B visa-processing posts – where U.S. officials adjudicated thousands of nonimmigrant visas, including 220,000 H-1Bs and 140,000 H-4 visas for their family members in 2024 alone.

The episode highlights alarming patterns of fraud affecting the H-1B program, including forged degrees, falsified employment credentials, and the role of third-party staffing companies in bypassing the program’s original rationale of admitting skilled workers to meet temporary shortages. While the Trump administration implemented changes aimed at reorienting the program toward more qualified applicants, Siddiqui emphasizes that widespread political pressure and a very effective Indian lobby here in the U.S. have often undermined quality control.

The conversation provides insight into the challenges faced by consular officers attempting to curb visa fraud, including under-resourcing, bureaucratic obstacles, and pressure from both local and foreign political actors. The episode concludes with a discussion of potential reforms to ensure the program serves its intended purpose.

Host, Jessica Vaughan is the Director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration Studies
Guest, Mahvash Siddiqui is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer.

About 85,000 new H‑1Bs were issued for FY 2025, and over 600,000 H‑1B workers were present in the U.S. in January 2025.

The standard H‑1B cap is 65,000 visas per fiscal year.
An additional 20,000 visas are reserved for foreign nationals with U.S. advanced degrees.

Lottery System: Each year, USCIS receives far more registrations than available slots. For FY 2025, registrations were hundreds of thousands, but only ~85,000 were selected.
• Policy Changes: In 2025, new restrictions and higher fees ($100,000 per application under a presidential proclamation) reshaped employer participation.
• Employer Trends: Large U.S. tech companies dominate approvals, while Indian outsourcing firms saw a sharp decline

Total Population:
• As of early 2025, estimates show over 600,000 H‑1B workers in the U.S., including renewals and extensions.
• The majority are employed in technology, healthcare, engineering, and finance.

ITServe Alliance consisting of South Indians going tribal and launching personal attack against President Trump's wives. They roped in Vivek Ramaswamy too.

https://itserve.org/