Story perspectives

Chinese Students Believe Chick-fil-A Boosts Visa Lottery Odds

4/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Chinese students in the United States have developed a superstition that eating Chick-fil-A improves their H-1B visa lottery chances.
The belief stems from the phonetic similarity between Chick-fil-A and 'check files'.
Despite prestigious backgrounds, many graduates face visa hurdles due to language barriers and a tight job market.
Experts warn that suspicion toward Chinese immigrants in tech industries worsens their situation, prompting students to pray at temples for visa luck.

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Story summary

Chinese students in the United States have developed a superstition that eating Chick-fil-A improves their H-1B visa lottery chances.
The belief stems from the phonetic similarity between Chick-fil-A and 'check files'.
Despite prestigious backgrounds, many graduates face visa hurdles due to language barriers and a tight job market.
Experts warn that suspicion toward Chinese immigrants in tech industries worsens their situation, prompting students to pray at temples for visa luck.