Why does asking referral also is becoming like an interview?

I recent noticed that some of the employees in big company stating that people need to follow some formalities even to ask referral and shouldnt waste their time...but using linkedin looks more time waste for me unless you are looking for job hunt....and there some people who only refer people by own intrest (me and my female collegue request referral same guy he referred my collegue but not even though the skills and resume were almost same).....