J-1 visa statistics for Sofia

How many J-1 visas are issued at Sofia, and its share of everything issued in Bulgaria.

Data through February 2026

Visas issued at Sofia, last 12 months

Mar 2025 – Feb 2026

4,2194,219

1.1%vs 4,174 in the 12 months before

About the same as the previous 12 months (+1.1%). But the last 3 months ran 20% below the same months a year earlier.

Monthly average: 352
Busiest month: 1.6k; Apr 2025
Latest month: 257; Feb 2026Down 22%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 4.2k

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 4.2k

When visas are issued

Visas issued at Sofia each month. Darker means more.

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Typical

39%

0.2%

Typical: each month's share of a year's visas, averaged over 2023–2025.

Busiest: April 2024: 1,914 visas

In 2023–2025, April was typically the busiest month and October the quietest.

Year by year

Calendar years, January to December.

2023
3.7k
Jan – Dec 2023
First full year in this data
2024
4.2k
Jan – Dec 2024
Up 14%vs 2023
2025
4.3k
Jan – Dec 2025
About flat, 2.7%vs 2024
2026So far
268
Jan–Feb · 2 of 12 months
Down 21%vs same months a year earlier

2025 was the highest year shown, with 4,290 visas (+2.7% on 2024). 2026 so far (Jan–Feb) is running 21% behind the same months of 2025.

Show the monthly numbers

Visas issued per month, at Sofia
Month	Visas issued	A year earlier	Change
February 2026	257	328	Down 22%
January 2026	11	11	About flat, 0%
December 2025	11	11	About flat, 0%
November 2025	8	5	Up 60%
October 2025	9	7	Up 29%
September 2025	17	18	Down 5.6%
August 2025	7	11	Down 36%
July 2025	47	56	Down 16%
June 2025	75	104	Down 28%
May 2025	724	654	Up 11%
April 2025	1,601	1,914	Down 16%
March 2025	1,452	1,055	Up 38%
February 2025	328	315	Up 4.1%
January 2025	11	29	Down 62%
December 2024	11	11	About flat, 0%
November 2024	5	9	Down 44%
October 2024	7	3	Up 133%
September 2024	18	4	Up 350%
August 2024	11	23	Down 52%
July 2024	56	49	Up 14%
June 2024	104	112	Down 7.1%
May 2024	654	790	Down 17%
April 2024	1,914	1,256	Up 52%
March 2024	1,055	1,166	Down 9.5%

Source: US Department of State monthly reports of nonimmigrant visas issued at each US consulate. These count visas issued, not interview appointments available. All consulates in Bulgaria