Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh: Bulgaria's accession to the US Visa Waiver Program is a strategic priority for the Bulgarian government

The Ministry of Tourism is organizing an information meeting on visa procedures with a view to expanding tourist exchanges between Bulgaria and the US

"Bulgaria's accession to the US Visa Waiver Program is a strategic priority for the Bulgarian government. This is not just an administrative goal, but a key step towards facilitating contacts between people, encouraging business exchanges, and developing tourism between the two countries." This was stated today by Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh at the opening of an information event dedicated to visa procedures aimed at expanding tourist exchange between Bulgaria and the United States. "As the experience of countries such as Croatia and Poland shows, achieving this goal requires joint efforts - not only on the part of institutions, but also on the part of the private sector and civil society organizations," Minister Borshosh added. He emphasized that tourism and travel are inextricably linked and that Bulgaria is pursuing a consistent policy both on the path to the eurozone and toward visa liberalization.

The event was organized jointly by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the participation of the Consular Service of the US Embassy in Bulgaria, and its main purpose was to provide answers to key questions regarding the visa issuance process and Bulgaria's inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program.

The discussion was also attended by Dimana Dramova, Special Coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Bulgaria's inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program, and Leonard Lay, Consul at the US Embassy in Sofia. Dramova explained the steps taken so far in the process of including our country in the Program and emphasized the role of the website VizaAcademy.com, developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where visa applicants can obtain up-to-date practical information on the application process.

Leonard Lay, for his part, provided valuable guidance on how applicants should approach the visa application process. He emphasized the importance of completing the DS-160 forms at least 48 hours before the interview and advised applicants to be honest and frank. He noted that B1/B2 visas are an excellent opportunity to visit the US, but do not allow for work. According to him, approximately 5,000 visas have been issued under the Work and Travel program in the last three months, and over 14,000 B1/B2 visas in the last year.

The event was also attended by numerous representatives of the tourism industry, who play a key role in preparing and informing applicants for B1/B2 visas.