Nonimmigrant visas
There are many types of visas available to foreign visitors to the United States. Please review the information below to determine which visa best suits your needs. If you cannot determine the appropriate visa or would like additional information, do not hesitate to contact us.
Temporary Business or Tourism (B1/B2)
For those going to the U.S. on tourism, please indicate where you will be staying. If you are visiting friends, please bring letters of invitation from them and a copy of a document showing that person's immigration status in the United States. If you are visiting family, please indicate the inviting person's relationship to you and indicate whether that person is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (i.e., bearer of a U.S. green card), or nonimmigrant in the U.S. on a work or student visa. You may present a letter of invitation and a copy of a document showing their immigration status in the United States.
Applicants may choose to present, but are not required to, any additional documents in order to support their claim that they will return home after a temporary visit to the United States (such as proof of ownership of property, bank statements, proof of employment, proof of family ties, etc.) Supporting documents do not need to be notarized, and if they are in Bulgarian they do not need to be translated into English. Legible photocopies may be submitted in place of original documents.
Individuals applying for business visas should be prepared to explain what kind of business trip they are making. For those visiting business contacts or clients, please bring correspondence that explains the nature of the trip.
B1/B2 visa applicants must complete the online application form DS-160.
Treaty Traders & Investors (E-1)(E-2)
The E visa is appropriate for Bulgarian (and other qualifying) nationals wishing to go to the United States to carry on substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, principally between the United States and Bulgaria; or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the applying citizen has invested or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital.
Temporary Work (H, L)
Nonimmigrant Worker (H)
An H visa is issued to a nonimmigrant to allow travel for the purpose of temporary employment in the United States. To qualify for an H visa, the applicant must demonstrate that (a) the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has approved a petition (Form I-129), filed by the prospective employer, requesting H status for the applicant, and (b) the applicant qualifies for the specified employment by showing proof of education and relevant work experience. H visa applicants must complete the online application form DS-160.
Intracompany Transfer (L)
The L visa classification permits multinational companies to transfer qualified employees temporarily to the United States for the purpose of improving management effectiveness, expanding U. S. exports, and enhancing competitiveness in overseas markets. An applicant for an L visa must demonstrate that (a) the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has approved a petition (Form I-129), filed by the prospective employer, requesting L status for the applicant; (b) the prospective employer is the same firm, corporation, or other legal entity, or parent, branch, affiliate, or subsidiary thereof, for whom the applicant has been employed abroad; (c) the prospective employer will continue to do business in the United States and at least one other country; (d) the applicant has been employed overseas by the transferring organization for at least one year within the past three years; and (e) the applicant is a manager, executive, or employee with specialized knowledge and is destined to a managerial or executive position, or a position which requires specialized knowledge. L visa applicants must complete the online application form DS-160.
Student or Exchange Programs (F, M, J)
Student Visas (F, M)
Those wishing to study in the United States must include with the visa application the Form I-20 and evidence of funding for the first year's studies, as well as sources of adequate funding for subsequent years. The Form I-20 is provided by the United States institution after a foreign student has been accepted. F-1 and M-1 visa applicants must complete the online application form DS-160 and submit it online. Evidence that you have full funding for the first year at a school should be in the form of: a bank financial statement (not just a letter from the bank); evidence of employment of the persons funding for education (either in the form of a tax return or document confirming employment). Students from abroad whose I-20 is issued on or after September 1, 2004, will be required to pay the appropriate SEVIS fee - in most cases, $100 - prior to obtaining their visas. This fee must be paid before a visa can be issued.
Please note that students planning to attend public high schools in the United States must meet different requirements.
Exchange Visas (J)
The United States Government and many private organizations sponsor a wide variety of exchange programs. These include academic and cultural exchanges, as well as au pair programs and summer work and travel programs. Applications for J-1 Exchange Visitor visas must be accompanied by the Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for NIV Exchange Visitor) which is provided by the sponsoring U.S. organization. J-1 visa applicants must complete the online application form DS-160, and submit it online. Scholars and exchange visitors from abroad whose DS-2019 is issued on or after September 1, 2004, will be required to pay the appropriate fee - in most cases, $100 - prior to obtaining their visas. This fee must be paid before a visa can be issued.
Summer Work & Travel Program For Students
For more information on Student and Exchange programs, please see Studying in the U.S. or the State Department's Educational and Cultural Exchanges website.
Crew Members and/or Transit (C1/D)
Pilots, air hostesses, stewards, seamen or employees on board a ship whose services are required for normal operation, or crew members traveling to the United States as passengers to join a vessel or aircraft should apply for this type of visa. C1/D visa applicants must complete the online application form DS-160.
Journalists (I)
Representatives of foreign press, radio, film, or other information media should apply for this type of visa. This includes personnel whose activities are essential to the foreign information media function, e.g., media reporters, media film crews, videotape editors, and persons in similar occupations. The I visa classification may be accorded not only to primary employees of foreign information media engaged in filming a news event or documentary, but also to the employees of independent production companies when those employees hold a credential issued by a professional journalistic association. I visa applicants must complete the online application form DS-160.
Religious workers include ministers of religion who are authorized by a recognized denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties usually performed by members of the clergy, such as administering the sacraments or their equivalent. The term does not apply to lay preachers. A religious vocation means a calling to religious life, evidenced by the demonstration of a lifelong commitment, such as taking vows. Examples include nuns, monks, and religious brothers and sisters. A religious occupation means an habitual engagement in an activity which relates to a traditional religious function. Examples include liturgical workers, religious instructors or cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals, missionaries, religious translators, or religious broadcasters. It does not include janitors, maintenance workers, clerks, fundraisers, solicitors of donations, or similar occupations. The activity of a lay-person who will engage in a religious occupation must relate to a traditional religious function, i.e., the activity must embody the tenets of the religion and have religious significance, relating primarily, if not exclusively, to matters of the spirit as they apply to the religion. R visa applicants must complete the online application form DS-160.
Fiancé/Fiancee Visas (K-1/K-2)
Processed by the Immigrant Visa Unit. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides nonimmigrant visa classification (K-1) for aliens proceeding to the U.S. to marry American citizens. The marriage must be concluded within 90 days of their admission into the U.S. Following the marriage, the alien spouse must apply to the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to establish a record of entry for Conditional Permanent Residence (CR) status. After two years, the alien may apply to the USCIS for removal of the conditional status and change to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status.
Spouse/Children of U.S. Citizen (K-3/K-4)
Processed by the Immigrant Visa Unit, the nonimmigrant K-3 visa (spouse) and K-4 visa (child) has been created to reunite families that have been, or could be, subject to a long separation while their immigrant visa petitions are being processed. The visa entitles the holder to travel to the United States to await the approval of the immigrant visa petition.
Spouses of U.S. citizens and their children under the age of 21 for whom an immigrant visa petition has been filed, but not approved by the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), are eligible for this visa category.
Note: The child of a U.S. citizen will qualify for a K-4 visa only if he or she has no claim to U.S. citizenship and his or her parent qualifies for a K-3 visa.