Your portfolio repels jobs

No because the company would contact him. You could do it both ways and include a resume. But some people prefer not to send them until a company has contacted them. Which they would do based on the quality of the work. He was supposed to work here but didnt get his visa.

I don't know about other companies but we don't contract out too much. With very few exceptions, all in-game assets are usually done by the on site development team. This is for $ and communication reasons. Contractors are compensated differently than full-time employees.

As for work visas, it's a case-by-case thing. The person whose portfolio I linked to was very unlucky in his visa application and made what seemed to be a small mistake in the forms but one which ultimately lead to his refusal.