An American reddit user has ignited a fierce debate on the platform by calling the H-1B visa programme a “scam”, “joke”, and “rigged”. The H-1B is meant to bring skilled foreign workers to the United States, but the user has described the process in a now viral post, as a tool for companies to hire cheaper labor and keep both immigrant and American workers underpaid.
The Redditor started off by explaining that her husband was neither poor, nor desperate when he went to the US. Instead, he was upper middle class and came to the US for a degree and work. “I’ve seen this system up close,” the user wrote, adding that everyone pretends that getting a H-1B is for “the best and brightest” but in fact, it’s a loophole for companies.
H-1B – A loophole for US companies
The reddit user accused companies of using the H-1B visa to bring in cheap labour and tie these workers to an employer so they can’t quit. She also claimed that it is a way to “undercut American workers” and means to avoid paying competitive wages.
She claimed that the worst part is that “it screws everyone who’s not already rich or white.”
The post also mentioned that most of the immigrants get locked into contracts that aren’t very beneficial. These people get stuck at one company which is why they are afraid to speak up, move jobs or push back a little.
“They’re disposable. That’s not opportunity…. that’s modern indentured labor,” she said.
The user further explained that it doesn’t help American workers either as they just end up training the H-1B hires who are there as their replacement. “Yes, that really happens. It’s disgusting. But hey….cheaper labor,” the post read.
The user further looped in Elon Musk in her post claiming that he wants more H-1Bs because “it’s perfect for billionaires” who want to create a two-tiered workforce. One being the Americans who are desperate and underpaid, and the other being immigrants who are trapped and underpaid.
“Keep both groups dependent, competitive, and quiet. Classic white man billionaire strategy,” the user said.
Tata, Infosys, Cognizant are gaming the H-1B system HARD, claims Redditor
The post also targeted outsourcing giants like Tata, Infosys, and Cognizant, accusing them of “gaming the system” by flooding the lottery with shell applications for basic IT roles, calling them “specialized talent”, and paying workers the lowest possible wages.
“Most of these roles are NOT elite. They’re basic help desk, QA, admin work. Things that local grads can do. But H1Bs will do it for less, and they can’t negotiate. That’s the whole point,” she said.
The Redditor said the problem is not immigration itself but “labor abuse dressed up as diversity and talent shortages.” They argued that the current system benefits billionaires and big companies by creating “a two-tiered workforce — Americans who are desperate and underpaid, and immigrants who are trapped and underpaid.”
She claimed that 60% of H-1B jobs are given at lowest possible wage tier. And then, in a classic exploitative manner, they are told that they are “lucky to be here”.
‘Not immigration, but an issue of labour abuse’
“People keep pretending this is an immigration issue. It’s not. It’s a labor abuse issue dressed up in the language of diversity and talent shortages,” the user said.
As a solution, the Redditor called for higher wage minimums for H-1B roles and banning third-party outsourcing firms from applying, letting workers switch jobs freely, and stricter skill screening.
“This version of it was never designed to empower workers. It was designed to control them. All of them,” the post read, adding that nothing will change unless people start speaking out.
(Disclaimer: This story is based on a post shared by a Reddit User. The details, opinions, and statements quoted herein belong solely to the original poster and do not reflect the views of Financialexpress.com. We have not independently verified the claims.)