Sofia · Bulgaria · May 2024
Visas issued at Sofia in May 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) | May 2024 | Share | Apr 2024 | May 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 1,176 | 56.6% | 1,293 | 1,225 |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 654 | 31.5% | 1,914 | 790 |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 102 | 4.9% | 95 | 114 |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 55 | 2.6% | 12 | 4 |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 26 | 1.3% | 3 | 16 |
| H2B | Temporary worker performing other services | 13 | 0.6% | 43 | 25 |
| 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 | 13 | 0.6% | 8 | 11 |
| B1 | Temporary visitor for business | 6 | 0.3% | 5 | 4 |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 6 | 0.3% | 5 | 20 |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 6 | 0.3% | 3 | 0 |
| I | Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children | 5 | 0.2% | 0 | 2 |
| D | Crewmember (sea or air) | 3 | 0.1% | 0 | 0 |
| L1 | Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation) | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | 2 |
| H4 | Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3 | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | 0 |
| K1 | Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen | 2 | 0.1% | 2 | 2 |
| B2 | Temporary visitor for pleasure | 1 | 0% | 2 | 0 |
| E2 | Treaty investor, spouse or child | 1 | 0% | 5 | 2 |
| F2 | Spouse or child of F1 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 |
| J2 | Spouse or child of exchange visitor | 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 |
| O3 | Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 |
Immigrant classes
| Class | Description (State Department) | May 2024 | Share | Apr 2024 | May 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F4 | Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age, spouse and child (F41, F42, F43) | 6 | 24% | 0 | 0 |
| IR5 | Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age | 5 | 20% | 9 | 12 |
| CR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status) | 3 | 12% | 6 | 3 |
| IH3 | Child adopted abroad by U.S. citizen under Hague Convention | 2 | 8% | 12 | 7 |
| SB1 | Returning resident | 2 | 8% | 0 | 0 |
| CR2 | Child of U.S. citizen (conditional status) | 1 | 4% | 1 | 0 |
| E3 | Employment third preference: skilled worker or professional holding baccalaureate degree, spouse and child (E31, E32, E34, E35) | 1 | 4% | 0 | 1 |
| F2B | Family second preference (2B): unmarried son or daughter of lawful permanent resident, and child (F24, F25, C24, C25, B24, B25) | 1 | 4% | 0 | 0 |
| GV1 | Certain employee or former employee of the U.S. Government abroad | 1 | 4% | 0 | 0 |
| GV3 | Child of GV1 | 1 | 4% | 0 | 0 |
| IR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | 1 | 4% | 1 | 1 |
| IR2 | Child of U.S. citizen | 1 | 4% | 0 | 3 |
Context
| May 2024 | Sofia | All posts |
|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas | 2,077 | 1,070,656 |
| Change on previous month | -39% | +1% |
| Change on same month a year earlier | -7% | +6% |
| Immigrant visas | 25 | 58,778 |
Nearest wait-time reading on or before the end of May 2024 (8 May 2024): B1/B2 next available 18 days; F, M, J 10 days; H, L, O, P, Q 15 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 · Apr 2024 · Mar 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 May 2024?
2,077 nonimmigrant visas and 25 immigrant visas, per the State Department's monthly tables for May 2024. That was the 96th largest nonimmigrant count among 217 posts that month.
How did May 2024 compare with the month before and a year earlier at Sofia?
April 2024: 3,406 nonimmigrant visas (-39% to May 2024). May 2023: 2,229 (-7%).
Which classes made up the month?
B1/B2 1,176 (56.6%), J1 654 (31.5%), C1/D 102 (4.9%), A2 55 (2.6%), F1 26 (1.3%).
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 May 2024, public domain. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.