Embassy of the United States Sofia, Bulgaria

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should documents be translated, or should the original document be presented?
It is not necessary to have Bulgarian documents translated into English in order to apply for a non-immigrant visa. You may present legible photocopies of relevant documents at the time of the interview, but consular officers may request to see original documents if they find this necessary to determine visa eligibility.

2. I'm planning to travel to the United States with my children. Do they need to appear at a visa interview?
All visa applicants over age fourteen must be present at a visa interview. Any minor child under the age of 18 should be accompanied by at least one parent at the interview, whether the parent is traveling with the minor or not.

3. Are there special requirements for visa applicants under age 18?
Any applicant under the age of 18, who is not traveling with both parents, must comply with some requirements.

4. If my visa is approved, when will it be ready?
We will make every effort to have visas printed within 1-2 business days and delivered to TNT pick-up locations. TNT will deliver documents in 1-2 days for Sofia and 2-4 days for offices outside of Sofia. Increased security measures may lead to some processing delays. Please note that a small percentage of visa applications require additional special clearances or administrative processing. Most special clearances are resolved within 30 days of application. When administrative processing or additional special clearances are required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.  The approved visas of applicants who were temporarily refused under section 221(g) will also be delivered through TNT.

5. Can someone else retrieve my passport?
Yes. Another person may receive your passport ONLY by presenting the following:

• Their own original government-issued photo ID for identification
• A photocopy of your government-issued photo ID
• A letter of authority, signed by you, authorizing your representative to collect your passport. The letter of authority must contain the following information:

1. Your representative's full name as shown on their government-issued photo ID
2. Your name

If the applicant is under the age of 16, the following documents are required:

• An original, signed letter of authority from either of the applicant's parents
• A clear photocopy of the government-issued photo ID belonging to the parent who signed the applicant's letter of authority
• The representative's original government-issued photo ID
  Note: In case of a group/family, a single letter of authority with the required information for each of the applicants will be accepted.

6. How long is a visa valid? How long can I stay in the United States?
Visa validity varies for each class of visa. The important thing to know is that the expiration date indicated on the visa specifies the period of time within which the bearer must use the visa to enter the United States. However, please note: The length of stay in the United States is determined by the immigration official at the port of entry. For example, a visa issued with one year validity may be used to enter the United States within that one-year period but it does NOT entitle the bearer to remain in the United States for one year. That question must be resolved at the port of entry.

7. What are the requirements for an invitation?
There are no specific requirements for invitation letters, which are optional. Such letters do not need to be notarized. It is helpful if the following information is included: Name of the inviting party, name of the applicant, the relationship of the two people, the intended length of stay, any financial assistance that will be provided to cover the cost of the trip. Proof of the inviting party's status in the United States (i.e., copy of a passport or green card) should be provided. Proof of the status of any direct relative of the applicant (even if the invitation is from an in-law, for example) should also be provided.

8. Should invitation letters be sent to the Consulate?
No. In order to ensure that an invitation is on hand for the interview, it should not be sent to the consular section. Invitations should be sent directly to the visa applicant, who should present them together with the rest of the application. This avoids misplacement of the invitation and a lot of inconvenience for everyone involved.

9. What are the fees to be paid for a nonimmigrant visa?
The type of visa for which you apply determines the fee amount. The application fee for the most common nonimmigrant visa types is $160. This includes tourist, business, student, and exchange visas. Most petition-based visas, such as work and religious visas are $190. K visas cost $240 and the fee amount for E visas is $270.  Additional issuance fees (reciprocity fees) vary by visa class and nationality. There are currently no such additional reciprocity fees for Bulgarian citizens. Citizens of countries other than Bulgaria may have to pay an additional issuance fee, depending on the reciprocity between the United States and the applicant's country of citizenship.

10. If the visa is refused, can I get my money back?
No. The application processing fee is non-refundable. Visa fee receipts may not be transferable to other applicants.

11. What happens when a visa is refused? Is a refusal under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act permanent?
Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of the United States (INA) states that consular officers must consider every visa applicant to be an intending immigrant, ineligible to receive a nonimmigrant visa, unless the applicant convinces the officer of his or her intent to return to a permanent residence in his or her home country following a temporary stay in the United States. Consular officers take a number of factors into account in making their determination of visa eligibility, including the prevailing local social and economic climate and recent immigration trends. Demonstrating visa eligibility is thus not simply a question of presenting a certain set of documents. Unless a consular officer informs you otherwise, a visa refusal is not permanent and it is POSSIBLE to apply again in order to present new or additional evidence. See Question 13 below for reapplication instructions. Additional evidence DOES NOT, however, guarantee that a refusal will be overcome.

12. How many times can I apply for a visa?
We discourage repeated applications from previously-refused applicants unless they are able to demonstrate significant change in their social or economic situation. If you are refused a non-immigrant visa, we recommend you wait at least a year to re-apply.

13. When can I re-apply if my visa was refused?
Unless there are dramatic changes in your socio-economic situation, we recommend you wait at least a year before re-applying.

14. The consular officer didn't even look at the documents I brought to the interview before refusing me. Why not?
Supporting documents are intended to SUPPORT information provided in the application or at the interview. The documents submitted in support of the information on the application form are reviewed before the applicant is called to the interview window. The interviewing officer will refer to the supporting documents when the information provided on the application forms and in response to the interview questions is in question. If the information provided is clear, there is often no need to turn again to the supporting documents. It is important to bring the documents to the interview and present them to the cashier with the application, to ensure the information on them is reviewed and taken into consideration.

15. My passport has expired, but I have a valid visa in it. Can I transfer the visa into my new passport?
You may use your current visa in your old passport until your visa expires – in this case you will need to bring both passports with you when you travel. 

16. My passport with a valid US visa has been stolen. Can I transfer the visa into my new passport?
No, you cannot transfer the visa. You need to submit a completely new application, including payment of the application-processing fee. A copy of the Police report for your lost/ stolen passport must be presented on the day of the interview. A copy of this report may be faxed to the Consular Section at: 359-2-937-5209.

17. I still have the I-94 or I-94W in my possession; what should I do?
If you returned home with your Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) Departure Record in your passport, it is possible that your departure was not recorded properly. If you departed by a commercial air or sea carrier (airlines or cruise ships), your departure from the U.S. can be independently verified, and it is not necessary to take any further action, although holding on to your outbound (from the U.S.) boarding pass can help facilitate your reentry next time you come back to the United States.
If you departed by land, private vessel or private plane, you will need to take steps to correct the record. It is very important that you complete the back of the card listing the port of departure and date of departure from the United States and the carrier/flight information. The I-94 or I-94W together with a letter of explanation and evidence of your departure from the U.S. should be sent to:

DHS - CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
USA

Do not mail the I-94/I-94W to the Embassy. Doing so will only delay the update of the departure information.

The evidence can come from a variety of sources, including but not limited to:

• Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States;
• Entry or departure stamps in your passport to indicate you entered another country after you departed the United States (please copy all passport pages that are not completely blank and include the biographic page containing your photograph);
• Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate that you worked in another country after you departed the United States;
• Dated bank records showing transactions in your home country to indicate that you were in another country after your left the United States;
• School records showing your attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country
  Dated credit card receipts with the credit card number deleted for purchases you made after you departed the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States.

Please send legible copies or the original material where possible. If you send original materials please retain a copy for your records; the originals will not be returned to you. It will assist the CBP if you include an explanation letter.

For more information:

• https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/752
• http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/
• http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/a_zindex/a_zindex_2911.html

18. May I apply for a U.S. visa in Sofia if I am a Bulgarian citizen currently living and/or working in another country?
Yes.  Anyone who is physically present in Bulgaria may apply for a visa at the Embassy.  However, you should be aware that interviewing officers' unfamiliarity with local conditions in other countries may make it more difficult to demonstrate your qualifications for a visa here than in the country in which you reside.  If you are a resident of another country, we strongly recommend you apply at the Embassy or Consulate with responsibility over your consular district.  A complete list is available on the U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions page.  Even if an applicant qualifies for a visa, there can be visa processing delays ranging from several days to several months.  Therefore, you should also take into account whether you will be in Bulgaria for a sufficient period of time to complete visa processing.

19. My I-94 form was stamped for a period of 6 months at the port of entry. Does this mean that I can remain in the U.S. for 6 months?
If the U.S. CBP officer allows you to remain in the United States for 6 months, this means that you can legally remain in the U.S. for 6 months.  Regardless of that, an abrupt change in your travel plans may create a problem later. For example, if at the time of your visa interview you declare that your intent is to remain for 2 weeks and suddenly you decide to remain for 6 months, this may raise the question of your true intent and respectfully of your ties to Bulgaria. Many people would find it difficult to support themselves without working for such a long period of time and your activities during that time may be questioned. If it turns out that you presented false information at the time of your visa interview, your visa may be revoked afterwards.  We understand that your plans may change for reasons beyond your control, but it is in your favor to be as much honest when you apply for a visa at the Embassy. In addition, if you regularly reside in the U.S. as a tourist for periods of more than 6 months out of 12 months, an assumption can be made that you live in the United States and, respectfully, that you no longer meet the criteria for a visitor visa.