american visa

just a quick question - i may eventually be forced to fly home via USA so i have to apply for the visa.
i know i'd need residency, bank accounts, papers from work, from the bank and lots of money.

i just want to know how many times to i have to go to SD -
can i send papers over/apply online and then go there to get passport stamped?
or do i send a passport along with all the paperwork and go to pick it up (with or without visa?
or do i have to drag my motion sick arse all the way there with the papers and then come back again for the visa?
or the above plus third trip for an interview?

traveling is a major problem so i need to be prepared as to how many times i need to go to the embassy... :ermm:

thanks...

i am polish

poland is part of the EU, but i am a "second category" EU citizen and i need a visa to visit USA.
i flew here from london where i lived for four years.
want US visa only to expand my option of travelling back home - since i live in POP i'd have to go to SD, fly to madrid (most possibly) and then to berlin (my home city is just across the border). i may be easier/cheaper to fly from POP to miami/NYC and then to berlin.
i cannot apply for a visa from poland, no possible.
i have dominican residency thou so theoretically i can apply for a visa from here....
it's just stupid i'd need to take so many days off to travel to SD to get the visa - makes my holiday allowance shorter and it's crappy as it is already!
geez, most of dominicans i know and whole minovio's family have american visas, it can't be that hard to get it....

thanks caz, i know i can fly via europe too but i want to look at all options, the chepaer the better. also it would be a good idea in case something would happen back home and i needed to fly at a short notice/immediately...