Bern · Switzerland · May 2025
Visas issued at Bern in May 2025
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 2025 | Share | Apr 2025 | May 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 1,045 | 49.3% | 1,073 | 1,647 |
| L1 | Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation) | 304 | 14.4% | 97 | 68 |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 171 | 8.1% | 131 | 247 |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 168 | 7.9% | 162 | 271 |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 96 | 4.5% | 78 | 75 |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 54 | 2.5% | 40 | 21 |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 42 | 2% | 42 | 83 |
| L2 | Spouse or child of intracompany transferee | 41 | 1.9% | 41 | 69 |
| I | Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children | 27 | 1.3% | 18 | 11 |
| J2 | Spouse or child of exchange visitor | 19 | 0.9% | 7 | 16 |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 18 | 0.8% | 12 | 20 |
| B1 | Temporary visitor for business | 16 | 0.8% | 12 | 20 |
| G1 | Principal resident representative of recognized foreign government to international organization, staff, or immediate family | 16 | 0.8% | 5 | 3 |
| M1 | Vocational student and other nonacademic student | 16 | 0.8% | 5 | 11 |
| A1 | Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family | 13 | 0.6% | 9 | 3 |
| E2 | Treaty investor, spouse or child | 13 | 0.6% | 10 | 31 |
| O1 | Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics | 13 | 0.6% | 17 | 17 |
| B2 | Temporary visitor for pleasure | 8 | 0.4% | 8 | 13 |
| O3 | Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 | 8 | 0.4% | 3 | 12 |
| P1 | Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group | 8 | 0.4% | 2 | 11 |
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 4 | 0.2% | 18 | 9 |
| H4 | Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3 | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | 9 |
| F2 | Spouse or child of F1 | 3 | 0.1% | 0 | 1 |
| R2 | Spouse or child of R1 | 3 | 0.1% | 0 | 3 |
| C3 | Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit | 2 | 0.1% | 0 | 1 |
| P3 | Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | 2 |
| R1 | Alien in a religious occupation | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | 3 |
| E3 | Australian specialty occupation professional | 1 | 0% | 1 | 1 |
| H2A | Temporary worker performing agricultural services | 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 |
Immigrant classes
| Class | Description (State Department) | May 2025 | Share | Apr 2025 | May 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | 7 | 30.4% | 4 | 4 |
| E3 | Employment third preference: skilled worker or professional holding baccalaureate degree, spouse and child (E31, E32, E34, E35) | 5 | 21.7% | 0 | 0 |
| FX | Family second preference, exempt from country limitations: spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (FX1, FX2, FX3, CX1-CX3, BX1-BX3) | 3 | 13% | 0 | 0 |
| IR5 | Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age | 2 | 8.7% | 2 | 3 |
| E2 | Employment second preference: professional holding advanced degree or alien of exceptional ability, spouse and child (E21-E23) | 1 | 4.3% | 6 | 4 |
| F2A | Family second preference (2A): spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (F21, F22, F23, C21-C23, B21-B23) | 1 | 4.3% | 0 | 0 |
| SB1 | Returning resident | 1 | 4.3% | 0 | 0 |
| SQ1 | Certain Iraqis or Afghans employed by or on behalf of the U.S. Government | 1 | 4.3% | 1 | 0 |
| SQ2 | Spouse of SQ1 | 1 | 4.3% | 1 | 0 |
| SQ3 | Child of SQ1 | 1 | 4.3% | 2 | 0 |
Context
| May 2025 | Bern | All posts |
|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas | 2,118 | 897,937 |
| Change on previous month | +17% | -10% |
| Change on same month a year earlier | -21% | -16% |
| Immigrant visas | 23 | 46,751 |
Nearest wait-time reading on or before the end of May 2025 (1 May 2025): B1/B2 next available 1 month; F, M, J 0.5 months; H, L, O, P, Q 0.5 months.
Other months at this post: Sep 2025 · Aug 2025 · Jul 2025 · Jun 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 · Dec 2023 · Nov 2023 · Oct 2023. Back to the Bern page.
Questions and answers
How many visas did Bern issue in May 2025?
2,118 nonimmigrant visas and 23 immigrant visas, per the State Department's monthly tables for May 2025. That was the 78th largest nonimmigrant count among 217 posts that month.
How did May 2025 compare with the month before and a year earlier at Bern?
April 2025: 1,805 nonimmigrant visas (+17% to May 2025). May 2024: 2,691 (-21%).
Which classes made up the month?
B1/B2 1,045 (49.3%), L1 304 (14.4%), F1 171 (8.1%), J1 168 (7.9%), C1/D 96 (4.5%).
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 2025, public domain. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.