Chennai Visa Claim Triggers H-1B Controversy
Former U.S. congressman and economist Dave Brat has alleged that Chennai alone received 220,000 H-1B visas, a number far exceeding the annual U.S. cap of 85,000. He claimed this figure indicates “industrial-scale fraud” in the system and pointed to the high share of H-1B visas traditionally issued to Indian nationals.
Why The Claim Is Disputed
Independent data does not support the claim that any single Indian city or consular post could receive such a volume of visas. Historically, U.S. visa fraud investigations have found irregularities in isolated cases across multiple regions, not concentrated in one city. The annual national cap itself makes the 220,000 figure impossible without official program changes, which have not occurred.
Context On H-1B Approvals
Analysts noted that H-1B issuance patterns are distributed across multiple consulates globally and tied to employer petitions rather than city-specific allocations. Recent reviews also show that approvals for many Indian IT firms have declined in recent years, contradicting claims of a sudden, unprecedented spike concentrated in Chennai.
Ongoing Debate Around The System
The allegation has renewed debate over visa transparency, employer compliance, and potential misuse of the H-1B programme. Experts say any claim of large-scale fraud must rely on verified U.S. government data rather than unsubstantiated numbers circulating online.
