‘Fake Degrees, Bribes’: Indian-Origin US Diplomat Pushes For H-1B Freeze, Flags Fraud | India News
Last Updated:December 19, 2025, 19:58 IST Siddiqui urges a pause on H-1B visas, citing fraud in Chennai and Hyderabad, and calls for stricter checks to protect US STEM workers and curb abuse by lobbyists. Siddiqui (in pic) argued that the programme has turned into a “de facto immigration shortcut dominated by one country.” (Image: US Department of State) Indian-origin US diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui has called for a pause on the H-1B visa programme pending a full audit, citing widespread fraud that she says she witnessed first-hand during her posting at the US consulate in Chennai. Writing for the Center for Immigration Studies, Siddiqui alleged that fake degrees, forged bank statements and fabricated marriage and birth certificates are openly sold in Hyderabad’s Ameerpet to cater to what she described as an H-1B “scam” sustained through “bribery” and the “cultural normalization” of fraud. “Many H-1Bs claiming computer science degrees had no related coursework or programming skills; basic coding tests often exposed them. Corrupt HR officials in both India and the US facilitated fake employment letters, allowing underqualified …








