Sofia · Bulgaria · December 2023
Visas issued at Sofia in December 2023
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.
Nonimmigrant classes
| Class | Description (State Department) | Dec 2023 | Share | Nov 2023 | Dec 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 737 | 83.7% | 1,214 | 900 |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 45 | 5.1% | 81 | 80 |
| H2B | Temporary worker performing other services | 32 | 3.6% | 1 | 0 |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 11 | 1.2% | 9 | 7 |
| E2 | Treaty investor, spouse or child | 10 | 1.1% | 0 | 0 |
| P3 | Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program | 10 | 1.1% | 9 | 3 |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 9 | 1% | 10 | 16 |
| I | Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children | 8 | 0.9% | 4 | 0 |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 7 | 0.8% | 3 | 20 |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 2 | 0.2% | 0 | 1 |
| L1 | Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation) | 2 | 0.2% | 1 | 4 |
| L2 | Spouse or child of intracompany transferee | 2 | 0.2% | 0 | 2 |
| O1 | Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics | 2 | 0.2% | 1 | 3 |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 1 | 0.1% | 7 | 1 |
| J2 | Spouse or child of exchange visitor | 1 | 0.1% | 0 | 0 |
| K1 | Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen | 1 | 0.1% | 2 | 0 |
| NATO2 | Other 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 visas | 1 | 0.1% | 7 | 9 |
Immigrant classes
| Class | Description (State Department) | Dec 2023 | Share | Nov 2023 | Dec 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IH3 | Child adopted abroad by U.S. citizen under Hague Convention | 15 | 31.9% | 6 | 9 |
| IR5 | Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age | 15 | 31.9% | 13 | 11 |
| E3 | Employment third preference: skilled worker or professional holding baccalaureate degree, spouse and child (E31, E32, E34, E35) | 6 | 12.8% | 0 | 1 |
| CR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status) | 5 | 10.6% | 2 | 3 |
| F4 | Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age, spouse and child (F41, F42, F43) | 3 | 6.4% | 0 | 2 |
| IR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | 2 | 4.3% | 1 | 3 |
| IR2 | Child of U.S. citizen | 1 | 2.1% | 0 | 1 |
Context
| December 2023 | Sofia | All posts |
|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas | 881 | 755,973 |
| Change on previous month | -35% | -7% |
| Change on same month a year earlier | -17% | +1% |
| Immigrant visas | 47 | 46,279 |
Nearest wait-time reading on or before the end of Dec 2023 (17 Dec 2023): B1/B2 next available 1 day; F, M, J 4 days; H, L, O, P, Q 2 days.
Other months at this post: Sep 2025 · Aug 2025 · Jul 2025 · Jun 2025 · May 2025 · Apr 2025 · Mar 2025 · Feb 2025 · Jan 2025 · Dec 2024 · Nov 2024 · Oct 2024 · Sep 2024 · Aug 2024 · Jul 2024 · Jun 2024 · May 2024 · Apr 2024 · Mar 2024 · Feb 2024 · Jan 2024 · Nov 2023 · Oct 2023. Back to the Sofia page.
Questions and answers
How many visas did Sofia issue in December 2023?
881 nonimmigrant visas and 47 immigrant visas, per the State Department's monthly tables for December 2023. That was the 114th largest nonimmigrant count among 217 posts that month.
How did December 2023 compare with the month before and a year earlier at Sofia?
November 2023: 1,365 nonimmigrant visas (-35% to Dec 2023). December 2022: 1,060 (-17%).
Which classes made up the month?
B1/B2 737 (83.7%), C1/D 45 (5.1%), H2B 32 (3.6%), J1 11 (1.2%), E2 10 (1.1%).
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 for December 2023, public domain. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.