Post
by jagacharaja » Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:53 am
I can't specifically speak for Indians in Japan but -
I was a student in the US and subsequently switched to H1B - my H1B application was approved when I was in the US (received the form I-797) which kept me legal in the US as long as I didn't leave the country. I was however expected to get the H1B stamping done once I left the US before re-entering. I planned an India trip and squeezed in an appointment at the US consulate in India. The interview wasn't much of an interview - small talk more than anything else.
OTOH I've also seen cases like me going for a day or two to Canada or even Mexico, book an appointment w/the US consulate there, and return to the US w/the H1B visa on the passport - the risk of course being, if for whatever reason the outcome was negative, you'd've no where to go but India - thereby jeopardizing your job in the US!
Bottomline - I don't know if there's a clear answer to your question. Generally countries prefer you utilize the consulate in your home country, but if you have substantial roots in Japan since you've been there for few yrs as you say, then you might be ok going to the Tokyo US consulate (for e.g. I had no issues applying for a UK tourist visa and subsequently the HSMP visa from the UK consulates in the US)... but it's really your call.
Good luck.
