Every day, we hear Indian parents worrying that H-1B visas are becoming harder to obtain and that opportunities in the U.S. are shrinking for the next generation.
But before blaming immigration policies alone, perhaps we should ask ourselves a difficult question: Did we, as a community, contribute to this situation?
Millions of Indian students and professionals have earned respect in America through hard work, honesty, and talent. Unfortunately, it takes only a small percentage of people misusing the system to damage the reputation of everyone else.
America welcomed talented people regardless of nationality. The F-1 visa was meant for education, and the H-1B program for skilled professionals. Yet over the years, we have seen reports of fake experience certificates, academic dishonesty, misuse of work authorization, proxy interviews, and other forms of fraud.
Even today, social media and WhatsApp groups openly advertise proxy interviews, fake experience, and “research support” promising publications comparable to top universities. Such practices undermine genuine talent and erode trust in the system.
There is nothing wrong with a student legally working part-time to support living expenses. The concern arises when some individuals allegedly take on multiple jobs or look for ways to maximize earnings at any cost.
When one person occupies opportunities that could otherwise support several students, it raises questions of fairness and hurts those who are following the rules.
Another uncomfortable reality is the race to cut costs. Some consulting companies have increasingly convinced clients to move work to remote delivery at lower prices. While remote work itself is not the problem, it can be abused when individuals secretly work on multiple full-time projects or improperly delegate their responsibilities to others while presenting the work as their own.
Such practices, if they occur, are unfair to clients, unfair to honest consultants, and can expose both individuals and companies to serious legal and regulatory consequences if investigated.
Our public image has also suffered. Incidents involving disruptive behavior in movie theaters, confetti during screenings, milk abhishekams for movie stars, and loud rallies on public roads leave a lasting impression on local communities.
Most Indian Americans never participate in such activities, but the actions of a few often define the image of many.
Perhaps our community organizations should have done more to educate newcomers early about respecting local laws, public spaces, and civic responsibility instead of reacting after the damage was done.
If we want future generations to enjoy the same opportunities that earlier immigrants did, we must protect the reputation built over decades—with honesty, merit, professionalism, respect for the law, and respect for the country that welcomed us.
The question is not just whether the system failed us.
The question is: Did we dig our own grave?
