A viral post on Reddit has sparked a wave of discussion over the unpredictability of visa interview outcomes, with many users claiming that the decision often hinges less on qualifications and more on the “vibes” or mood of the visa officer (VO) conducting the interview. While visa interviews are officially based on documented evidence and applicant responses, the Reddit thread suggests that real-world experiences often tell a different story—one where luck and subjective impressions can play an outsized role. “Your Answers Matter, But So Does the VO’s Mood.”
The original poster recounted their own experience applying for a U.S. visa in 2022. “Don’t get me wrong, your answers do matter,” they wrote, “but also the VO’s vibe and feelings that day also matter.” They described how their first interview at a local consulate turned hostile despite being fully prepared,
“I got one of the rudest VOs ever. It went from a routine question-and-answer to interrogation mode… I knew I was going to get rejected from the first minute.”
However, their second interview—conducted in the capital city—was a completely different experience. “The VO was the chilliest dude ever. Ninety percent of the interview was him arguing that my last name was Irish. When I told him it was Turkish, we laughed. He asked two questions and approved it right away.”
The post quickly drew a flood of comments from others sharing their own inconsistent visa experiences. One user wrote, “It’s not just F-1 visas. Travel visas rely heavily on vibes too.” They described two friends with opposite outcomes, one, a 22-year-old who had just quit her job and had only $700 in savings, was approved for a travel visa. Another, a government employee in his 30s with a strong travel history and financial background, was denied—only to be approved months later with no changes to his situation.
Another user chimed in with an example of perceived favouritism, “People getting visas just because they’re headed to the same school as the visa officer. The discretionary power they have just makes the process non-standard.” Others compared it to broader American systems, “It’s the same for everything else in America, especially job interviews and performance reviews.” One comment summed up the skepticism, “The VO didn’t ask for any statements, didn’t even look at me. I barely answered because my English was so bad—still got the visa. It’s purely RNG [random number generator].” Another user suggested that some factors might silently tip the scales, “I think if you have travel history in the US and a great family income, then no matter what you say, they’ve already decided you can get the visa.”