Plan your trip. Decide which countries you will be visiting and how long you plan to stay. Requirements vary by country, but if you will be staying for less than a certain amount of time, you may not need a visa.
Contact the consulates for the European countries you want to travel to. Ask them what documents you must provide in order to apply for a travel visa.
Collect the documents required to process your visa application. These may include a valid passport, secondary proof of identity, proof of money to support yourself and a ticket that shows you plan to leave the country before your visa expires. If you are applying for a work visa, you will probably have to provide the name of an employer willing to sponsor you for work in the country.
Locate the consulate for the country for which you are applying for a visa. You can find the consulate closest to you using the U.S. Department of State website's consulate locator. Call the consulate and set up a meeting to apply for a visa. Allow at least six weeks and more if possible before your departure date, as the consulate will need adequate time to process your application.
