david, as for nationality preferences in the visas, typically they are approved first by the Immigration. this is the reason why companies hire a specific nationality because that is the only visa approval they got from the government. i really don't know how the government allocates certain visas to certain nationalitlies but that happens here. regarding accommodation issue, it is not meant to be racist at all. its just that people tend to live together with same nationalities because of culture, from dress, to food to how one spent their free time at home. imagine you live in an indian or nepali household, you will not last the whole day smelling the ultra spicy food they prepared! you would be sneezing in no time at all. and for a filipino (like me) to hear the music from non- english/ filipino, either i would be laughing or be pissed off. i'm sure other nationalities would have the same reaction to our filipino music. a home is a refuge from the world, where you can be yourself.