Chinese Visa-Seekers Turn to Chick-fil-A for Good Luck

The popular fast-food chain has become a symbol of fortune for Chinese students and workers in the U.S. visa lottery system.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:03am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the superstition surrounding the fast-food chain as a good luck charm for Chinese immigrants navigating the complex U.S. visa system.The Chick-fil-A logo has become a symbol of luck for Chinese visa-seekers in the U.S., despite the chain having no presence in China.Arlington Today

Chinese students and workers in the U.S. have turned to Chick-fil-A, a fast-food chain with no presence in China, as a good luck charm for their visa applications. The belief is that 'Chick-fil-A' sounds like 'check files,' which is seen as auspicious. Some engage in rituals like 3D-printing the logo, embroidering it onto keychains, or setting it as their social media profile picture in hopes of improving their chances in the competitive H-1B visa lottery.

Why it matters

The reliance on Chick-fil-A as a lucky charm highlights the difficulties Chinese immigrants face in securing work visas in the U.S., even those with prestigious educational backgrounds and high-level job titles. The H-1B visa lottery system has become increasingly competitive, leading some to turn to superstitions and spiritual practices to improve their odds.

The details

Chinese students and workers in the U.S. have embraced Chick-fil-A as a symbol of good luck for their visa applications, particularly the H-1B work visa, which is awarded through a lottery system. The belief is that 'Chick-fil-A' sounds like 'check files,' which is seen as an auspicious phrase in Chinese culture. Some engage in rituals like 3D-printing the Chick-fil-A logo, embroidering it onto keychains, or setting it as their social media profile picture in hopes of improving their chances in the competitive visa lottery.

  • The Trump administration imposed a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas a few months ago, stunning Chinese students and workers and creating a more chilling atmosphere.
  • More than 46,000 Chinese students and workers were approved for H-1B visas in 2024, accounting for 11.7% of approved applicants, the second-largest group after India.

The players

Zhou Yilu

An AI software engineer in his late 30s who lives in Wilmington, Delaware. He has had a roller-coaster experience with his visa status, switching among four types of visas, and turned to Chick-fil-A as a good luck charm.

Fan Wu

A data scientist living in Indianapolis who didn't win his H-1B lottery despite changing his social media profile picture to the Chick-fil-A logo and traveling to Hawaii to pray at a Japanese Taoist temple.

Meng Yanqing

A 24-year-old agent in Beijing who prays at the Lama Temple on behalf of Chinese students and workers seeking H-1B visas, holding a paper with their personal information and helping them buy consecrated bracelets to send to the U.S.

Harriet Peng

A data analyst living in northern Virginia who, after losing the H-1B lottery repeatedly, went to a temple in upstate New York to pray in person, kneeling in front of almost every god in the hope of improving her visa chances.

Yang

A manager at a new energy company in his late 20s who finally changed his profile picture to the Chick-fil-A logo after months of waiting for his visa, feeling like he was 'living under someone else's roof' in the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“It feels like I am one step closer to the green card after having a Chick-fil-A meal.”

— Zhou Yilu, AI software engineer

“I was forced to turn to these mysteries. The lottery itself is a matter of chance. It depends on luck, and we need another mystery to echo it.”

— Fan Wu, data scientist

“I respect them, they have their demands, and I offer the service. I truly hope the best for them.”

— Meng Yanqing, visa agent

“It feels like living under someone else's roof.”

— Yang, new energy company manager

“I knelt in front of almost every god and prayed, in case they all know each other.”

— Harriet Peng, data analyst

What’s next

Experts warn that the suspicion surrounding Chinese immigrants, especially in high-tech industries, reduces the U.S.'s ability to attract international talent. The visa issue will likely continue to be a pressing concern for Chinese students and workers in the U.S.

The takeaway

The reliance on Chick-fil-A as a lucky charm for visa applications highlights the difficulties Chinese immigrants face in securing work visas in the U.S., even those with prestigious backgrounds. This reflects the competitive and uncertain nature of the visa system, leading some to turn to superstitions and spiritual practices in hopes of improving their chances.