Senator Eric Schmitt Blasts H-1B ‘Visa Cartel’ and India’s Visa Temple

Republican Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri has sparked a heated debate with his strong words against the H-1B visa program. In a series of posts on X, he called the system a “Visa Cartel” that hurts American workers by taking jobs and holding down wages. He even pointed to a temple in Hyderabad, India, known as the Chilkur Balaji Temple or “visa temple,” as a symbol of the problem.

Schmitt’s comments came on May 15, 2026. He targeted not just H-1B visas but also L-1, F-1 student visas, and Optional Practical Training (OPT). He said these programs let companies lay off U.S. workers and replace them with cheaper foreign labor. Big tech firms, he claimed, file thousands of H-1B requests for the same jobs they cut Americans from.

The Role of Chilkur Balaji Temple

The Chilkur Balaji Temple sits on the edge of Hyderabad, near Osman Sagar Lake. This 500-year-old shrine draws crowds of students, software engineers, and families. They visit to pray for success in U.S. visa interviews or to give thanks after approvals.

Locals call it the “visa temple” because of this tradition. It has no official tie to immigration processes. Still, Schmitt used it in his post: “The ‘Visa Cartel’ has its own ‘Visa Temple’ in Hyderabad, which sees thousands of Indians circling altars and getting passports blessed for U.S. work visas.” He argued American workers should not compete in a system he sees as rigged.

Hyderabad itself is a major tech hub in India. The city sends many engineers and students to the U.S., which links it closely to visas like H-1B.

Schmitt’s Broader Attacks on Visa Programs

Schmitt went further than H-1B. He called F-1 visas “silent job killers.” Foreign students, mostly from India, get work permits after school, he said. This lets them move to H-1B and green cards while U.S. graduates face debt and tougher job hunts.

He accused the system of fraud, like shell companies and kickbacks for cheap labor. Reports of shared interview questions among Indians showed “ethnic favoritism,” he claimed. Schmitt also said billions in AI work now go to India, paid by Americans.

His posts described a “vertically integrated labor pipeline.” This includes recruiting abroad, filing visas, placing workers, and handling payroll through linked firms. No payroll taxes or wage rules apply, he noted.

Indian Dominance in H-1B Visas

Indians receive about 70% of H-1B approvals each year. This makes them a focus in U.S. debates on skilled immigration. Indian professionals lead tech companies, work in hospitals, and pay high taxes in America.

Yet Schmitt sees this as proof the system favors outsiders. The latest visa bulletin shows long waits for Indians. For EB-2, it’s back to September 1, 2013. This backlog adds to the tension.

Category	India	China	Rest of World
EB-1	Dec 15, 2022	Apr 1, 2023	Current
EB-2	Sep 1, 2013	Sep 1, 2021	Current
EB-3	Dec 15, 2013	Aug 1, 2021	Jun 1, 2024

Political Push for Change

Schmitt fits the “America First” view on immigration. He has called for a three-year freeze on all H-1B visas. His words turn a policy fight into a cultural one, mixing corporate hiring critiques with a religious site.

The debate weighs real labor needs against protecting U.S. wages. From Missouri to Hyderabad, it touches jobs, migration, and global tech ties. The H-1B program, visa temple, and Chilkur Balaji Temple now sit at the center.

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