Sofia · Bulgaria · March 2024
Visas issued at Sofia in March 2024
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) | Mar 2024 | Share | Feb 2024 | Mar 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 1,084 | 47.1% | 1,257 | 1,500 |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 1,055 | 45.9% | 315 | 1,166 |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 59 | 2.6% | 61 | 95 |
| H2B | Temporary worker performing other services | 43 | 1.9% | 2 | 27 |
| B1 | Temporary visitor for business | 15 | 0.7% | 21 | 5 |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 8 | 0.3% | 0 | 5 |
| P1 | Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group | 7 | 0.3% | 2 | 4 |
| B2 | Temporary visitor for pleasure | 6 | 0.3% | 5 | 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 | 4 | 0.2% | 7 | 9 |
| K1 | Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen | 3 | 0.1% | 3 | 3 |
| L2 | Spouse or child of intracompany transferee | 3 | 0.1% | 4 | 1 |
| E2 | Treaty investor, spouse or child | 2 | 0.1% | 4 | 3 |
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 2 | 0.1% | 7 | 2 |
| K2 | Child of K-1 | 2 | 0.1% | 0 | 0 |
| L1 | Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation) | 2 | 0.1% | 2 | 3 |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 1 | 0% | 10 | 39 |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 1 | 0% | 1 | 3 |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 1 | 0% | 2 | 2 |
| H2A | Temporary worker performing agricultural services | 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 |
| I | Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children | 1 | 0% | 1 | 2 |
Immigrant classes
| Class | Description (State Department) | Mar 2024 | Share | Feb 2024 | Mar 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DV | Diversity immigrant (DV1, DV2, DV3) | 14 | 25.9% | 4 | 41 |
| IR5 | Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age | 11 | 20.4% | 11 | 7 |
| F3 | Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33) | 8 | 14.8% | 3 | 0 |
| IR2 | Child of U.S. citizen | 5 | 9.3% | 1 | 2 |
| F4 | Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age, spouse and child (F41, F42, F43) | 4 | 7.4% | 1 | 0 |
| E1 | Employment first preference (priority workers): person with extraordinary ability, outstanding professor or researcher, multinational executive or manager, spouse and child (E11-E15) | 3 | 5.6% | 0 | 0 |
| E3 | Employment third preference: skilled worker or professional holding baccalaureate degree, spouse and child (E31, E32, E34, E35) | 3 | 5.6% | 1 | 2 |
| F1 | Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12) | 2 | 3.7% | 0 | 4 |
| F2B | Family second preference (2B): unmarried son or daughter of lawful permanent resident, and child (F24, F25, C24, C25, B24, B25) | 1 | 1.9% | 0 | 0 |
| IH3 | Child adopted abroad by U.S. citizen under Hague Convention | 1 | 1.9% | 8 | 4 |
| IR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | 1 | 1.9% | 4 | 2 |
| SB1 | Returning resident | 1 | 1.9% | 1 | 1 |
Context
| March 2024 | Sofia | All posts |
|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas | 2,300 | 962,731 |
| Change on previous month | +34% | +12% |
| Change on same month a year earlier | -20% | -13% |
| Immigrant visas | 54 | 53,633 |
Nearest wait-time reading on or before the end of Mar 2024 (6 Mar 2024): B1/B2 next available 1 day; F, M, J 5 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 · Feb 2024 · Jan 2024 · Dec 2023 · Nov 2023 · Oct 2023. Back to the Sofia page.
Questions and answers
How many visas did Sofia issue in March 2024?
2,300 nonimmigrant visas and 54 immigrant visas, per the State Department's monthly tables for March 2024. That was the 85th largest nonimmigrant count among 217 posts that month.
How did March 2024 compare with the month before and a year earlier at Sofia?
February 2024: 1,714 nonimmigrant visas (+34% to Mar 2024). March 2023: 2,880 (-20%).
Which classes made up the month?
B1/B2 1,084 (47.1%), J1 1,055 (45.9%), C1/D 59 (2.6%), H2B 43 (1.9%), B1 15 (0.7%).
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 March 2024, public domain. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.