US Diplomat’s Comments on H1B Visas Triggers Sensation

The article reports that recent remarks about H-1B visas by Indian-American diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui caused a strong public reaction.

Key statement on H-1B visas

Mahvash Siddiqui, who served as a US diplomat at the Chennai Consulate between 2005 and 2007, commented on the large number of H-1B visas issued to Indian applicants. She claimed that 80–90% of H-1B visas granted to Indians in science, technology and engineering fields were allegedly based on fake degrees and documents.

Allegations of fraud and lack of skills

According to Siddiqui, many visa holders did not actually possess the skills required for H-1B classification. She said that, while working at the Chennai consulate, cases of fraud were detected and reported to the foreign secretary.

Political pressure and inaction

Siddiqui stated that, despite identifying fraudulent applications, no action was ultimately taken because of political pressure. She added that many political leaders were involved, which, in her view, prevented enforcement against suspected abuse of the visa process.

Volume of visas and regional focus

The diplomat mentioned that during her tenure more than 51,000 non-immigrant visas were issued by the Chennai Consulate, most of them H-1B visas. She noted that the consulate handled visa applications from Hyderabad, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and expressed particular concern about applications originating from Hyderabad.

Quote

Mahvash Siddiqui alleged that 80 to 90 per cent of H-1B visas issued to Indians were based on fake degrees and documents, and said political pressure prevented action against this fraud.

Author’s summary

The text highlights how Mahvash Siddiqui’s claims about widespread fraud, weak skills and political interference in Indian H-1B visa cases sparked controversy around the integrity of the US visa system.

Deccan Chronicle — 2025-12-01