New York: Former US Congressman and economist Dave Brat has sparked controversy by alleging large-scale irregularities in the issuance of H-1B visas through the US Consulate in Chennai. Speaking to a media outlet in the US, Brat claimed that while the annual cap for H-1B visas issued to Indian applicants is 85,000, the Chennai post alone had allegedly processed around 2.2 lakh visas — far exceeding the permissible limit.

The H-1B programme allows American employers to hire foreign skilled workers, with Indians accounting for nearly 70-75 per cent of total issuances each year. The high share has often drawn criticism from some sections in the US who argue that the programme impacts American job opportunities. Under former President Donald Trump, the US administration had tightened various aspects of the visa process.

Brat reiterated these concerns, stating that “71 per cent of all H-1B visas go to Indians and only 12 per cent to Chinese applicants,” and claimed the reported figures from Chennai suggested that “something is going wrong there.” His remarks have since triggered debate on visa transparency and processing oversight.

The US Consulate in Chennai handles visa applications from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka. Authorities have not issued an official response to Brat's allegations.