Overview
- Eric Schmitt, who posted a lengthy thread on X on Wednesday, labeled H‑1B, L‑1, F‑1 and OPT a “visa cartel” and shared a photo of Hyderabad’s Chilkur Balaji “Visa Temple”.
- He alleged that major tech firms laid off Americans while filing H‑1B petitions for similar roles and claimed 82% of those foreign hires were below median wages.
- He described what he called a global network of overseas recruiters, resume fraud, shell companies and kickback schemes that steers visa‑dependent workers into U.S. jobs.
- The Chilkur Balaji Temple has long drawn visa seekers who perform 11 prayer circles when making a wish and 108 on returning to give thanks after an approval.
- Reaction online in India was split between calling the remarks racist and urging tougher checks, and no new government action was reported as of Friday.