Updated
USA Visas
If country is part of ESTA, can get visa without interview.
Visitor B1/B2
apply through website, then have interview, after interview, they take ~ 10 days to process application (don't have to stay in the same city as where consulate is as you wait), then they send it to post office when visa is issued
they can say visa is Rejected even as they process the application (does not mean visa got denied)