Apply for a U.S. Visa

All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee. Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period. Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period. There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period. All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.

Important news!
The Consular Section at U.S. Embassy in Sofia is pleased to announce the resumption of visa appointments for all categories of nonimmigrant visas on a limited basis. Beginning December 8, we offer a limited number of appointments for visitor visas (B1, B1/B2, B2). We are offering as many appointments as local conditions, resources, and safety considerations allow and encourage applicants to be mindful of the constraints and to apply early.

We continue processing of K1 fiancé visas and other immigrant visas. Please note that the Embassy is prioritizing Immediate Relative family members of U.S. citizens including intercountry adoptions, fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens, and certain Special Immigrant Visa applications. The Embassy is processing all categories of immigrant visas, but there may be significant wait times for appointments.

Processing of B1/B2, C1/D and F visa renewals which meet the requirements for an interview waiver will continue. For information regarding the procedure, please visit: http://ustraveldocs.com/bg/bg-niv-visarenew.asp.

Both the delivery and submission of documents at TNT/FedEx’s head office location in Sofia at blvd. Dragan Tsankov 36 are free of charge.

Receiving documents FROM the U.S. Embassy – the fee for premium home or premium TNT/FedEx office delivery is 11.25 USD per passport. The fee must be paid via this link. Documents cannot be released until payment is rendered.

Sending documents TO the US Embassy – the fee for submitting documents to the U.S. Embassy from a premium TNT/FedEx location or home/office address is 6 USD per passport. For more information, please visit this link.

Do not contact U.S. Embassy Sofia with questions pertaining to the status of your passport delivery or payment of the premium fee, as they do not have this information and will be unable to assist you. Instead, please consult this page for assistance.

Beginning October 1, applicants may pay the required MRV fee in cash at any EasyPay location within Bulgaria.

Secretary Blinken, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has temporarily expanded the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa in the same classification. Previously, only those applicants whose nonimmigrant visa expired within 24 months were eligible for an interview waiver. The Secretary has temporarily extended the expiration period to 48 months. This change will allow consular officers to continue processing certain nonimmigrant visa applications while limiting the number of applicants who must appear at a consular section, thereby reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission to other applicants and consular staff. Travelers are encouraged to review the website of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for detailed information on what services are currently available as well as eligibility information and instructions on applying for a visa without an interview.

Dear Consular section clients, please be advised that there is no parking lot on the Embassy grounds. We recommend you use public transportation or a taxi as it can be difficult to find street parking near the Embassy.

The streets around the Embassy are part of the paid Green Zone.  If you choose to come by car, please be advised that you will not have access to your phone in the waiting room of the Consular section and you should use paper parking coupons. You may find more information on the official website of the Urban Mobility Center.

Laptops and tablets can no longer be stored at the security screening area of the U.S. Embassy. If you arrive with a laptop or tablet you will not be admitted to the Embassy and you will need to reschedule your appointment. We also strongly advise that you do not bring large bags, such as backpacks, suitcases or packages as there are no storage facilities on the Embassy grounds.

Applicants should NEVER purchase tickets prior to receipt of their passport with visa. We cannot expedite the pick-up of visas on the basis of pre-purchased tickets. The TNT pick-up location or home delivery address can be changed at any time prior to 11:59 p.m. on the day before the interview at the Embassy.

If you experience problems completing the DS-160 form, please check the information available at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application/ds-160-faqs.html or write to: niv_sofia@state.gov. The call center agents are unable to answer any questions or provide guidance on this process.

If you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program partner but unable to travel to the United States under that program, you should apply for a nonimmigrant visa at least three months in advance of your desired travel. If you do not have imminent travel plans, you should pay the nonimmigrant visa application fee, fill out the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application form at ceac.state.gov/genniv/, and schedule a visa appointment. If your travel is imminent, you may request an expedited visa appointment. Please include in your request the date and purpose of your travel, as well as a copy of any U.S. Customs and Border Protection message you may have received regarding your ESTA status.
More information about restrictions to travel under the Visa Waiver Program, including the requirement for an electronic passport, is available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html