Interesting – the visa application for Singapore actually asks you to state your race (e.g. ‘Malay, Chinese, Indian, Caucasian’). Some forms in the US, especially while applying for universities or jobs, do ask about race. However, it is mostly in a voluntary section so that you are not obligated to respond (in almost all cases the question is asked so that the university or company can demonstrate it has not discriminated in its hiring practices).
The Singapore visa application asks about race in its front page and looks like one of those ‘have to fill-in’ boxes. Wonder if it is just for record keeping or do they consider race while determining visa eligibility ?
From what I have seen, they do use race as a criterion, not so much for visitor or white collar work visas but for blue collar and residency apps…apparently they need to maintain a particular ratio of different ethnicities….
U.S. international applications asking for race can be a bit redundant because most of desi applicants will promptly write down Asian or those that are more specific, Asian-Indian.
But is being classified as an Asian a plus in the admission process? Given the stereotypes, of course.