Senator Eric Schmitt is a staunch critic of the bill. H-1B visa OPT (Optional Practical Training) has targeted India’s Chilkoor Balaji temple in its latest tirade against visa fraud, saying American workers should not have to compete with a system that houses cartels and temples. Indians hit back at the hatred and condemned Senator Schmidt for calling the temple part of a game while devotees were simply praying for their US visas at the famous temple near Hyderabad.Schmidt’s latest jibe draws on a variety of sources: a British news documentary on H-1B, a lawsuit filed by a Chinese-American professor against Southern Methodist University in Texas, accusing an Indian-American department chair of favoring Indians only for tenure-track positions.Schmidt wrote: “Big tech companies laid off thousands of American workers while filling thousands of H-1B petitions for the same positions. 82% of these foreign workers were paid below the median. Billions of people are now flowing to India for AI training, subsidized by Americans.”“This is part of a global ‘visa cartel.’ Networks recruit overseas, lie on resumes, file petitions, and treat workers like cattle. Shell companies and kickback schemes funnel cheap, visa-dependent labor to U.S. jobs while Americans are ignored,” he was quoted as saying. Schmidt said little is known about how the L-1 visa has become big business for the “visa cartels” and the number of applications continues to increase.“F-1 visas are also a silent job killer. Foreign students (India accounts for nearly half) receive taxpayer-subsidized work permits and businesses have no payroll taxes or wage rules. They flow into H-1B and then green cards, while debt-ridden American graduates compete with cheaper labor,” the rant continued. “The ‘visa cartel’ has its own ‘visa temple’ in Hyderabad, where thousands of Indians gather around the altar to get their passports endorsed with US work visas. American workers should not have to compete with a system like this,” he wrote.“Enough is enough. We must end fraud, shut down these networks, close loopholes, and ensure we serve American workers,” Schmidt concluded.
What is the “Visa Temple”?
The Chilkul Balaji temple in Telangana state near Hyderabad is known as the visa temple as many devotees come to the temple with visa wishes. Chilkur Balaji is also known as the “Visa God” for this practice. But Eric Schmidt upset Indians by saying the Hindu temple was part of a cartel. They question how this differs from Christians praying in church.
- “I can’t believe a sitting U.S. Senator is so racist and bigoted as to incite hatred against a community, Hindus and Indians. This is so low
@SenEricSchmitt. shame on you! Reflect on what an idiot you are! Don’t think about the racists on X. They are fake and real voters will not forgive you,” one person wrote. - “Is this any different than Christians praying for their best wishes? … When there is a 100 year wait time for a US visa and H1B people are trying to make America great, the simplest action is to pray!” another person reacted.
- “What if someone goes to a temple to pray and the visa officer stamps their visa? Is there a direct connection between the temple and the US consulate? What nonsense are you posting,” a third user wrote angrily.
Unlike most areas of the ancient city, which have been disturbed by looters or natural forces over the centuries, this vault was discovered in an extremely rare, unspoiled state. The discovery of these bones provides a transformative perspective on Nabatean burial practices, as the remains provide a unique, untouched biological record.
The merger is scheduled to take effect in August 2027, but the name of the combined organization has not yet been determined.Upon completion, the new entity is expected to have approximately 47,000 students, making it the UK’s second largest mainstream higher education institution after University College London.The agreement will also see around 5,000 mainly postgraduate students from Cranfield enter the King’s College system.The merger aims to expand UK capabilities in areas such as engineering, artificial intelligence, defence, energy, manufacturing and climate research.Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor and Dean of King’s College London, said the merger was intended to help create a stronger global organization.“This is a deliberate move to allow the best talent in the UK to compete with the best talent in the world,” Kapoor said.He added that the partnership would “create new educational possibilities for students” and strengthen collaboration with industry and government.The combined organization is expected to focus on aerospace, robotics, hydrogen energy systems, life sciences, public leadership and national security.Cranfield University specializes in postgraduate education and applied research and is renowned for its links with industry and government, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors.Professor Dame Karen Holford, chief executive and vice-chancellor of Cranfield University, said the merger would create a “global university” with greater international scale.She said Cranfield University’s applied research expertise and long-standing industry partnerships would be combined with King’s wider academic network.UK Science Secretary Patrick Vallance backed the proposal, saying it had the potential to strengthen the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor and support the UK’s science and technology ambitions.
