Overview
- Mahvash Siddiqui says 80–90% of India‑origin H‑1B cases she encountered involved fake degrees, forged documents, proxy applicants or bribery.
- She recounts sending a dissent cable to the Secretary of State and alleges that political pressure overturned officers’ adjudications and branded their anti‑fraud push a “rogue operation.”
- Siddiqui, who served at the Chennai consulate from 2005 to 2007, says she adjudicated more than 51,000 non‑immigrant visas during that posting.
- Recent reports cite Chennai processing roughly 220,000 H‑1B visas and 140,000 H‑4 visas in 2024, underscoring the scale of that consular post.
- Former congressman Dave Brat, speaking on a podcast, claimed one Indian district received 220,000 H‑1B visas despite an 85,000 national cap, a characterization presented without independent verification.