US visa row: X post over H-4 EAD holders with ‘fake experience’ joining state jobs in California sparks uproar
A US social media post has ignited debate among Indian-Americans regarding the H-4 EAD program's impact on public employment in California.
A US-based commentator's post on social media has sparked a heated debate within the Indian-American community, concerning the H-4 EAD program and its effects on state and public-sector employment in California.

The post on X share a message from an Indian computer worker who has lived in Sacramento for nearly 20 years. The person said that they entered the country in 2006 on a company-sponsored H-1B visa, and their spouse, who is also on an H-1B, had to wait almost 15 years for a green card since a state position required permanent residency. However, HT.com cannot independently verify the authenticity of the post.
Indian-American raises concerns around H-4 EAD state jobs
According to the post, the husband started feeling uneasy as he observed H-4 EAD holders, a significant number of whom are women who had earlier stayed at home to look after children, joining state positions that are reportedly based on fabricated experience.
The post further stated that several positions within the state of California, previously filled by American citizens, are currently held by people with H-4 EAD status, and that informal networks occasionally assist in facilitating the entry of others from the same communities into comparable positions.
“Most state employees in CA are H4 EAD house wife’s. These jobs were previously held by Americans and now taken by H4 EAD housewife’s most with fake experience. Most of these H4 EAD were previously stayed home for decade taking care of kids and got the state jobs with fake experience. I know many people from my parents friends circle in CA! H4 EAD desi supervisor or manager brings in another H4 EAD from his/her circle with fake experience,” read the post shared by KumarXclusive, known for elevating unfiltered perspectives from the Indian diaspora.
Also Read: Can H-1B visa holder re-enter US after layoff? Indian professional's Reddit post sparks concerns
H-4 EAD program: X post draws discussion
Meanwhile, the comments on the post underscore the longstanding tensions present within immigrant communities, where issues of fairness, adherence, and opportunity increasingly intersect with personal experiences and economic conditions.
“So painful trying to decode the grammar. And they say that they all speak English fluently. I appreciate her transparency, but the only reason she's coming forward is because they have green cards now,” one person wrote.
“It’s same in Maryland , Virginia and many other states. H4-EAD took over all the jobs that in state and federal,” another claimed.
“Same here in Redmond, WA all subs in elementary and middle school are H4 EAD house wife. Sometimes my daughter comes back home with proud that today they taught subs because she did do simple Math. This is insane I complained principal but no action taken,” a third user mentioned.
Another person linked the matter to wider demographic changes within the state, stating, “So sad. Thank you for posting @KumarXclusive. Do you think this is the reason for the explosion of the Indian community in CA? There were only 150k Asian Indians in CA in 1990 (year that H-1B was created). Today, the pop is reported at 1 million!”
ABOUT THE AUTHORShweta KukretiShweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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