Applications for U.S. visas must be made at U.S. Consulates. U.S. visa stamps cannot be obtained from within the U.S. There are some common aspects of visa applications across all Consulates, but each U.S. Consulate also has its own rules and procedures. The first step in any visa application, therefore, is to check the Consulate's website for its local rules. The Department of State maintains a list of all U.S Embassy and Consulate websites. Please also see our overview of the visa application process.