Sofia · Bulgaria · December 2024
Visas issued at Sofia in December 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) | Dec 2024 | Share | Nov 2024 | Dec 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 1,145 | 86.4% | 1,426 | 737 |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 76 | 5.7% | 82 | 45 |
| B1 | Temporary visitor for business | 18 | 1.4% | 20 | 0 |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 13 | 1% | 4 | 7 |
| 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 | 1% | 35 | 1 |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 11 | 0.8% | 5 | 11 |
| L1 | Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation) | 9 | 0.7% | 6 | 2 |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 7 | 0.5% | 7 | 9 |
| L2 | Spouse or child of intracompany transferee | 7 | 0.5% | 11 | 2 |
| P3 | Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program | 7 | 0.5% | 0 | 10 |
| H2B | Temporary worker performing other services | 6 | 0.5% | 4 | 32 |
| O1 | Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics | 3 | 0.2% | 5 | 2 |
| B2 | Temporary visitor for pleasure | 2 | 0.2% | 7 | 0 |
| H4 | Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3 | 2 | 0.2% | 1 | 0 |
| O2 | Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-1 | 2 | 0.2% | 0 | 0 |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 1 | 0.1% | 2 | 1 |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 1 | 0.1% | 0 | 2 |
| P1 | Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group | 1 | 0.1% | 0 | 0 |
| P4 | Spouse or child of P-1, P-2, or P-3 | 1 | 0.1% | 0 | 0 |
Immigrant classes
| Class | Description (State Department) | Dec 2024 | Share | Nov 2024 | Dec 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR5 | Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age | 9 | 50% | 0 | 15 |
| IH3 | Child adopted abroad by U.S. citizen under Hague Convention | 4 | 22.2% | 6 | 15 |
| CR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status) | 3 | 16.7% | 0 | 5 |
| IR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | 2 | 11.1% | 5 | 2 |
Context
| December 2024 | Sofia | All posts |
|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas | 1,325 | 884,739 |
| Change on previous month | -18% | +9% |
| Change on same month a year earlier | +50% | +17% |
| Immigrant visas | 18 | 50,944 |
Nearest wait-time reading on or before the end of Dec 2024 (1 Dec 2024): B1/B2 next available 10 days; F, M, J 10 days; H, L, O, P, Q 14 days.
Other months at this post: Sep 2025 · Aug 2025 · Jul 2025 · Jun 2025 · May 2025 · Apr 2025 · Mar 2025 · Feb 2025 · Jan 2025 · Nov 2024 · Oct 2024 · Sep 2024 · Aug 2024 · Jul 2024 · Jun 2024 · May 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 December 2024?
1,325 nonimmigrant visas and 18 immigrant visas, per the State Department's monthly tables for December 2024. That was the 103th largest nonimmigrant count among 216 posts that month.
How did December 2024 compare with the month before and a year earlier at Sofia?
November 2024: 1,619 nonimmigrant visas (-18% to Dec 2024). December 2023: 881 (+50%).
Which classes made up the month?
B1/B2 1,145 (86.4%), C1/D 76 (5.7%), B1 18 (1.4%), H1B 13 (1%), NATO2 13 (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 2024, public domain. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.