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Sofia · Bulgaria

Visa issuances and wait times at the U.S. post in Sofia

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 113th of 217 posts by nonimmigrant issuances in Sep 2025 · wait times read 1 Jul 2026

The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics. On wait times the Department says: "New appointments are added regularly, so you may get an appointment sooner" and "The average wait times we report do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time."

The U.S. embassy or consulate in Sofia, Bulgaria, issued 875 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the most recent month in the State Department's monthly tables, down 22% on September 2024 (1,119).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 725, 82.9% of the post's issuances, C1/D (combined transit and crewmember visa) with 71, 8.1% of the post's issuances and G2 (other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family) with 18, 2.1% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Sofia ranks 89th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 172nd of 184.

On the immigrant side the post issued 26 immigrant visas in September 2025, led by IR5 (12) and DV (3); 52 in September 2024.

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; this site does not add monthly reports together, so the month-by-month table below is read one month at a time.

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table read on 1 Jul 2026 listed the next available appointment as under ½ month for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, under ½ month for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and under ½ month for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is shorter than the 1 month listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025).

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B2under ½ monthnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, Junder ½ monthnext available appointment; median post under ½ month
Worker H, L, O, P, Qunder ½ monthnext available appointment; median post under ½ month

under 2 months2 to 6 monthsover 6 monthsnot listedRead from the Department's table 1 Jul 2026.

875nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025-22% vs Sep 2024 (1,119)
1,044nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025-16% month on month
26immigrant visas, Sep 202552 in Sep 2024
0.11%share of worldwide nonimmigrant issuances, Sep 2025median post: 909 that month

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.

Monthly issuances by broad class, last 36 months

01,7033,406VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 1,288 (Visitors 1,143, Students and exchange visitors 9, Temporary workers 26, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 96, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2022: 1,441 (Visitors 1,294, Students and exchange visitors 7, Temporary workers 33, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 90, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Dec 2022: 1,060 (Visitors 907, Students and exchange visitors 23, Temporary workers 39, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 80, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2023: 1,538 (Visitors 1,287, Students and exchange visitors 59, Temporary workers 95, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 12, Transit and crew 84, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Feb 2023: 1,550 (Visitors 1,229, Students and exchange visitors 207, Temporary workers 17, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 23, Transit and crew 69, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)Mar 2023: 2,880 (Visitors 1,505, Students and exchange visitors 1,171, Temporary workers 50, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 56, Transit and crew 95, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Apr 2023: 2,409 (Visitors 960, Students and exchange visitors 1,267, Temporary workers 63, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 28, Transit and crew 85, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)May 2023: 2,229 (Visitors 1,229, Students and exchange visitors 808, Temporary workers 39, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 37, Transit and crew 114, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jun 2023: 1,568 (Visitors 1,183, Students and exchange visitors 194, Temporary workers 82, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 33, Transit and crew 74, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jul 2023: 1,186 (Visitors 955, Students and exchange visitors 88, Temporary workers 60, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 20, Transit and crew 62, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Aug 2023: 1,494 (Visitors 1,295, Students and exchange visitors 62, Temporary workers 22, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 35, Transit and crew 74, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)Sep 2023: 1,134 (Visitors 942, Students and exchange visitors 8, Temporary workers 59, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 47, Transit and crew 77, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Oct 2023: 1,235 (Visitors 1,080, Students and exchange visitors 3, Temporary workers 33, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 27, Transit and crew 91, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Nov 2023: 1,365 (Visitors 1,221, Students and exchange visitors 19, Temporary workers 22, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 20, Transit and crew 81, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Dec 2023: 881 (Visitors 737, Students and exchange visitors 21, Temporary workers 73, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 45, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Jan 2024: 1,522 (Visitors 1,316, Students and exchange visitors 33, Temporary workers 59, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 33, Transit and crew 78, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Feb 2024: 1,714 (Visitors 1,283, Students and exchange visitors 315, Temporary workers 26, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 26, Transit and crew 61, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Mar 2024: 2,300 (Visitors 1,105, Students and exchange visitors 1,063, Temporary workers 60, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 59, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)Apr 2024: 3,406 (Visitors 1,300, Students and exchange visitors 1,918, Temporary workers 63, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 27, Transit and crew 95, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)May 2024: 2,077 (Visitors 1,183, Students and exchange visitors 682, Temporary workers 31, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 74, Transit and crew 105, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jun 2024: 983 (Visitors 720, Students and exchange visitors 149, Temporary workers 45, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 56, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jul 2024: 1,141 (Visitors 837, Students and exchange visitors 117, Temporary workers 40, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 59, Transit and crew 82, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)Aug 2024: 1,389 (Visitors 1,190, Students and exchange visitors 58, Temporary workers 44, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 27, Transit and crew 61, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)Sep 2024: 1,119 (Visitors 947, Students and exchange visitors 21, Temporary workers 34, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 57, Transit and crew 58, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Oct 2024: 1,463 (Visitors 1,254, Students and exchange visitors 9, Temporary workers 38, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 66, Transit and crew 93, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Nov 2024: 1,619 (Visitors 1,453, Students and exchange visitors 12, Temporary workers 35, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 37, Transit and crew 82, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2024: 1,325 (Visitors 1,165, Students and exchange visitors 18, Temporary workers 51, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 76, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2025: 1,383 (Visitors 1,245, Students and exchange visitors 17, Temporary workers 32, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 71, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Feb 2025: 1,535 (Visitors 1,094, Students and exchange visitors 329, Temporary workers 12, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 29, Transit and crew 70, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Mar 2025: 2,609 (Visitors 985, Students and exchange visitors 1,458, Temporary workers 75, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 76, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2025: 2,723 (Visitors 926, Students and exchange visitors 1,606, Temporary workers 61, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 114, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)May 2025: 1,842 (Visitors 949, Students and exchange visitors 750, Temporary workers 37, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 91, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2025: 1,302 (Visitors 1,081, Students and exchange visitors 96, Temporary workers 41, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 23, Transit and crew 60, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Jul 2025: 1,513 (Visitors 1,204, Students and exchange visitors 124, Temporary workers 40, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 34, Transit and crew 110, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Aug 2025: 1,044 (Visitors 865, Students and exchange visitors 36, Temporary workers 29, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 23, Transit and crew 91, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2025: 875 (Visitors 728, Students and exchange visitors 19, Temporary workers 23, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 33, Transit and crew 71, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Sofia by month, stacked by broad class group.

VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classes

Groups follow the Department's visa symbols: visitors (B), students and exchange visitors (F, M, J), temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, E, R, TN, I), diplomatic and official (A, G, NATO), transit and crew (C, D), other. Hover a month for its counts. Each bar is one monthly report.

Compared with Bulgaria and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025SofiaBulgariaAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued875875823,557
Change on Sep 2024-22%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued262645,966
Visitors share83.2%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share2.2%—2.9%
Temporary workers share2.6%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share3.8%—2.1%
Transit and crew share8.1%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0.1%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointmentunder ½ month—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointmentunder ½ month—median under ½ month

All figures are from the September 2025 tables. The country column adds the posts located in Bulgaria within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of Bulgaria, which is on the Bulgaria nationality page.

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure72582.9%89 of 211
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa718.1%59 of 171
G2Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family182.1%68 of 157
J1Exchange visitor171.9%96 of 194
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family70.8%116 of 169
NATO2Other representative of member state to NATO and immediate family; dependents of member of a force entering under the NATO agreements; members of such a force if issued visas50.6%20 of 29
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse40.5%118 of 163
H2BTemporary worker performing other services40.5%57 of 88
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-340.5%96 of 137
A1Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family30.3%78 of 128
B1Temporary visitor for business30.3%91 of 128
E2Treaty investor, spouse or child30.3%54 of 68
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics30.3%85 of 132
F1Student in an academic or language training program20.2%172 of 184
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)20.2%120 of 144
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee20.2%117 of 133
C4/D3Nonimmigrant visa class C4/D3 (no description in the Department's symbol list)10.1%18 of 19
P1Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group10.1%110 of 110

Immigrant visa classes

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
IR5Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age1246.2%68 of 109
DVDiversity immigrant (DV1, DV2, DV3)311.5%81 of 96
IR1Spouse of U.S. citizen311.5%106 of 115
IR2Child of U.S. citizen311.5%85 of 103
IH3Child adopted abroad by U.S. citizen under Hague Convention27.7%7 of 15
CR1Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status)13.8%99 of 99
F1Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12)13.8%81 of 82
F4Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age, spouse and child (F41, F42, F43)13.8%73 of 73

Ranks are among posts in the same month's table. Earlier months are linked from the month-by-month table below.

Seasonality

Jan101
Feb105
Mar190
Apr159
May139
Jun101
Jul113
Aug98
Sep81
Oct99
Nov98
Dec89
Which months are busiest at Sofia. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

04793202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 8 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 201 Dec 2022: B1/B2 37 days; F/M/J 17; H/L/O/P/Q 3717 Jan 2023: B1/B2 21 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 91 Feb 2023: B1/B2 12 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Mar 2023: B1/B2 14 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 617 Apr 2023: B1/B2 13 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 209 Jun 2023: B1/B2 13 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 531 Jul 2023: B1/B2 14 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 131 Aug 2023: B1/B2 13 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 720 Sep 2023: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 712 Oct 2023: B1/B2 4 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 145 Nov 2023: B1/B2 4 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 1417 Dec 2023: B1/B2 1 days; F/M/J 4; H/L/O/P/Q 26 Jan 2024: B1/B2 1 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 21 Feb 2024: B1/B2 1 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 26 Mar 2024: B1/B2 1 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 29 Apr 2024: B1/B2 21 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 308 May 2024: B1/B2 18 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 1517 Jun 2024: B1/B2 62 days; F/M/J 33; H/L/O/P/Q 316 Jul 2024: B1/B2 89 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 187 Aug 2024: B1/B2 93 days; F/M/J 20; H/L/O/P/Q 1014 Sep 2024: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 112 Oct 2024: B1/B2 24 days; F/M/J 18; H/L/O/P/Q 1412 Nov 2024: B1/B2 17 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 131 Dec 2024: B1/B2 10 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 146 Jan 2025: B1/B2 12 days; F/M/J 12; H/L/O/P/Q 127 Feb 2025: B1/B2 12 days; F/M/J 12; H/L/O/P/Q 125 Mar 2025: B1/B2 12 days; F/M/J 12; H/L/O/P/Q 1216 Apr 2025: B1/B2 28 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 281 May 2025: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 304 Jun 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 302 Jul 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 303 Aug 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 07 Sep 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Oct 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Nov 2025: B1/B2 15 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 72 Dec 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 156 Jan 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 78 Feb 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Mar 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 74 Apr 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 714 May 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Jun 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Jul 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 7

Visitor B1/B2Student F, M, JWorker H, L, O, P, Q

Next available appointment at Sofia over time. Days to the next available appointment as listed on each reading date (44 readings, 4 Nov 2022 to 1 Jul 2026). From 1 May 2025 the Department publishes the estimate in half-month steps; those are shown as 30 days per month.

Month by month

MonthNonimmigrantImmigrantvs same month prior year
Sep 202587526-22%
Aug 20251,04440-25%
Jul 20251,51334+33%
Jun 20251,30236+32%
May 20251,84226-11%
Apr 20252,72331-20%
Mar 20252,60915+13%
Feb 20251,53518-10%
Jan 20251,38338-9%
Dec 20241,32518+50%
Nov 20241,61925+19%
Oct 20241,46325+18%
Sep 20241,11952-1%
Aug 20241,38928-7%
Jul 20241,14128-4%
Jun 202498338-37%
May 20242,07725-7%
Apr 20243,40630+41%
Mar 20242,30054-20%
Feb 20241,71440+11%
Jan 20241,52234-1%
Dec 202388147-17%
Nov 20231,36530-5%
Oct 20231,23534-4%

One row per monthly report; the rows are not added together. Each month links to the post's class breakdown for that month. Global totals for any month: September 2025.

Sofia
Location of the U.S. post in Sofia.This post Other posts in the country Outlines: Natural Earth.

Questions and answers

How many visas did the U.S. post in Sofia issue last month?

875 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables, and 26 immigrant visas. In September 2024 the post issued 1,119 nonimmigrant visas.

What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in Sofia?

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as under ½ month away (under 2 months). The Department updates the table monthly and says new appointments are added regularly, so an applicant may get an appointment sooner.

What is the wait for a student visa interview in Sofia?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as under ½ month away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does Sofia issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (725, 82.9%), C1/D (71, 8.1%), G2 (18, 2.1%), J1 (17, 1.9%) and A2 (7, 0.8%). 18 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Sofia rising or falling?

September 2025: 875 nonimmigrant visas, down 22% on September 2024 (1,119). The month-by-month series on this page shows the path one month at a time; the Department notes that monthly reports are preliminary and subject to change and should not be added together.

How many visas does Sofia issue in a year?

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office, and says its monthly reports should not be aggregated, so this site shows no yearly figure for a post. The annual tables by nationality are on the nationality pages.

What does the issuance count for Sofia not tell you?

It is the number of visas issued, not the number of applications received or interviews held, and it says nothing about the outcome of any individual application. The Department publishes refusal rates only for B visas by nationality, not by post.

Where does this data come from?

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by post and visa class, and a Global Visa Wait Times table. Issuances on this page run March 2017 to September 2025; wait times are read from the Department's table and kept as dated snapshots (44 readings for this post).

Provenance

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class and Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class (latest NIV table, latest IV table), public domain; Global Visa Wait Times table, read on the dates shown. Issuance data through 30 Sep 2025; site generated 1 Oct 2026. Errors in processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections.