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  1. US Visa Statistics
  2. Bulgaria
  3. J-1

Official US State Department data

J-1 visa statistics for Bulgaria

How many J-1 visas nationals of Bulgaria are issued, and what each US consulate in Bulgaria issues, month by month.

Data through February 2026

J-1 visas issued to nationals of Bulgaria

Every J-1 visa issued to a national of Bulgaria, at any US consulate in the world.

Visas issued to nationals of Bulgaria, last 12 months

Mar 2025 – Feb 2026

3,9533,953

About flat, 0.8%vs 3,923 in the 12 months before

About the same as the previous 12 months (+0.8%). But the last 3 months ran 19% below the same months a year earlier.

Monthly average
329
Busiest month
1.5k
Apr 2025
Latest month
230
Feb 2026Down 18%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 3.9k

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 4k

05001k1.5k2k
Mar '24Apr '24May '24Jun '24Jul '24Aug '24Sep '24Oct '24Nov '24Dec '24Jan '25Feb '25Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26

The long view

State Dept publishes its annual totals by US government fiscal year, which runs October to September.

Point at a year for its exact count.

02.5k5k7.5k10k
6.8k
Pre-COVID peak7.4k
7k
6.3k
6.4k
5.5k
4.9k
4.5k
4.7k
1.1k
798
2.2k
3.5k
3.9k
4k
276
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Striped: the current year so far.

FY2011: 6,824 visas; FY2012: 7,408 visas; FY2013: 6,985 visas; FY2014: 6,336 visas; FY2015: 6,358 visas; FY2016: 5,484 visas; FY2017: 4,923 visas; FY2018: 4,525 visas; FY2019: 4,707 visas; FY2020: 1,120 visas; FY2021: 798 visas; FY2022: 2,246 visas; FY2023: 3,468 visas; FY2024: 3,948 visas; FY2025: 4,002 visas; FY2026: 276 visas so far.

FY2025 had 4,002 visas (+1.4% on FY2024). That's 46% below the pre-pandemic peak (FY2012). FY2026 so far (Oct–Feb) is running 15% behind the same months of FY2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, to nationals of Bulgaria
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 2026230282Down 18%
January 20261214Down 14%
December 20251216Down 25%
November 2025106Up 67%
October 2025127Up 71%
September 20251717About flat, 0%
August 20251012Down 17%
July 20254958Down 16%
June 202575110Down 32%
May 2025688637Up 8%
April 20251,5111,782Down 15%
March 20251,327982Up 35%
February 2025282–
January 202514–
December 202416–
November 20246–
October 20247–
September 202417–
August 202412–
July 202458–
June 2024110–
May 2024637–
April 20241,782–
March 2024982–

Source: US Department of State monthly reports of nonimmigrant visas issued by nationality, and its annual Report of the Visa Office for earlier years. Nationals of Bulgaria who interview at a US consulate in another country are counted here, so these totals run higher than the consulate figures for Bulgaria.

J-1 visas issued in Bulgaria

How many J-1 visas the US consulates in Bulgaria issue each month, whether that's rising or falling, and where it's moving.

Visas issued in Bulgaria, last 12 months

Mar 2025 – Feb 2026

4,2194,219

About flat, 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

05001k1.5k2k
Mar '24Apr '24May '24Jun '24Jul '24Aug '24Sep '24Oct '24Nov '24Dec '24Jan '25Feb '25Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26

When visas are issued

Visas issued in Bulgaria each month. Darker means more.

JJanFFebMMarAAprMMayJJunJJulAAugSSepOOctNNovDDec
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

FewerMoreNo data

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

Year by year

Calendar years, January to December.

  1. 2023

    3.7k

    Jan – Dec 2023

    First full year in this data
  2. 2024

    4.2k

    Jan – Dec 2024

    Up 14%vs 2023
  3. 2025

    4.3k

    Jan – Dec 2025

    About flat, 2.7%vs 2024
  4. 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, in Bulgaria
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 2026257328Down 22%
January 20261111About flat, 0%
December 20251111About flat, 0%
November 202585Up 60%
October 202597Up 29%
September 20251718Down 5.6%
August 2025711Down 36%
July 20254756Down 16%
June 202575104Down 28%
May 2025724654Up 11%
April 20251,6011,914Down 16%
March 20251,4521,055Up 38%
February 2025328315Up 4.1%
January 20251129Down 62%
December 20241111About flat, 0%
November 202459Down 44%
October 202473Up 133%
September 2024184Up 350%
August 20241123Down 52%
July 20245649Up 14%
June 2024104112Down 7.1%
May 2024654790Down 17%
April 20241,9141,256Up 52%
March 20241,0551,166Down 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.

J-1 approval rate: 89.0%Worldwide, FY2024. How it has moved since FY2019.All visa types for BulgariaEvery US visa issued to nationals of Bulgaria, by visa type, and each consulate's total.Worldwide statisticsWhich countries and visa types get the most US visas.