Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:40pm on 14 May 2026,Thursday India Global
Eric Schmitt sparked controversy after criticising the US H-1B visa system and referencing Hyderabad’s Chilkur Balaji Temple, popularly known as the “Visa Temple.” In a series of posts on X, Schmitt alleged programmes like H-1B, L-1, F-1 and OPT suppress American wages and favour foreign workers, particularly Indians. He claimed the “Visa Cartel” uses networks that disadvantage US graduates and accused major technology firms of routing jobs through immigration pipelines. Schmitt also alleged Indian visa applicants circulate confidential interview questions among themselves. His remarks triggered online backlash, with critics accusing him of stereotyping Indians and targeting a religious site associated with visa aspirations among students and IT professionals.
