General Information (FAQs)

I am planning to visit the United States. Do I need a visa?

A.  Effective December 30, 2008, Maltese citizens are eligible to travel to the U.S. without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program if the following conditions are met:

• The visit is less than 90 days 
• The visit is for tourism or business 
• The traveler holds a valid biometric passport 
• The traveler registers for and receives an approved travel authorization, or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), by entering their travel details at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov  at least 72 hours prior to commencing travel 
• The traveler has a valid return ticket 
• The traveler has no prior legal convictions.

All travelers from countries who joined the Visa Waiver Program in 2008 – including Malta, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Korea – are required to have a biometric passport in order to travel to the U.S. without a visa.

Citizens of prior Visa Waiver Program participant countries – including Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (must be British Citizens not British Subjects) – must be in possession of a Machine Readable Passport that meets the following guidelines.

What documents do I need to present to apply for a visa?

A.  Please click here for How to Apply for a U.S. Visa.

Which forms do I need to complete and where can I obtain them?

A.  Please click here to access forms needed for a U.S. Visa application

How much do I have to pay at the bank?

A.  Please click here for a list of fees.  Payments must be made at the Bank of Valletta prior to applying for a visa.  Applicants must bring an original receipt with them when applying for a visa.  Click here for more information on How to Apply for a U.S. Visa.

Do children have to pay the same application fee as adults?

A.  Yes, the non-refundable application fee is the same for all applicants, irrespective of age.

How long does it take for the visa to be issued?

A.  It generally takes 5 working days.  For a list of typical visa wait times at US Embassy Malta and other US Embassies/Consulates, click here.  Note: Many factors, such as the need for special clearances, incomplete applications, and fraud investigations may influence the processing of individual visa cases.  Processing times listed are averages.  The timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.

Can I work/study in the U.S. with a B1/B2 visa?

A.  The B1/B2 visa is for business and pleasure only. You may not engage in any type of employment, paid or otherwise, with this type of visa. Should you wish to take up employment or enroll as a student in an educational institution in the U.S., you need to have the appropriate visa that allows these activities. Staff at the Consular Section will be able to advise you of the requirements to obtain different kinds of visas.  Click here for information on Categories of Visas for temporary visits to the United States. 

I am not a U.S. Citizen, but I want to join your Armed Forces. How can I do this?

A.  Enlistment into any branch of the U.S. military, by citizens of countries other than the United States is limited to those foreign nationals who are legally residing in the United States and possess a Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services Alien Registration Card (INS Form I-151/551 - commonly known as a "Green Card").

U.S. military branches cannot assist foreign nationals in obtaining admittance into the United States. People overseas with questions concerning immigration to the United States should ask the local U.S. Embassy.

Only after immigration procedures are completed and an applicant is legally residing in the United States may an application for enlistment be submitted.

10 USC § 504 - "Persons not qualified" (b) Citizenship or Residency.— (1) A person may be enlisted in any armed force only if the person is one of the following: (B) An alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(20)).

I have a multiple and indefinite visa on my old passport; can you transfer this over to my new passport?

A. You will need to apply for a new visa.  The "multiple and indefinite visa" you have on your old passport has been superseded by a new type of visa that contains more information and is valid for up to 10 years in the case of Maltese citizens.

I have a valid ten-year visa, however my passport has expired and I have to renew it. Do I have to reapply for a new visa?

A.  No, the visa remains valid till the date it actually expires, even though the passport that it is affixed to is now cancelled. You will need to carry both passports when you travel to the U.S.; i.e., the old passport with the valid visa and the new passport.

Please note: This applies only if all of your personal details have remained unchanged. If any of your personal details have changed, a new visa must be obtained.

My children have a valid ten-year visa on my passport; however they now have their own passport. Can they travel with that visa since we are travelling together?

A.  No, visas affixed to parents' passports are no longer valid once applicants have their own passport. A new application needs to be submitted and the old visas cancelled.

I have a valid visa on my old passport; however I have now changed my surname to reflect my married status. Can I still use the visa?

A.  You will need to apply for a new visa reflecting your name change.  The visa should always reflect the exact details on your passport; if your surname has changed that visa is no longer valid.

What are your opening hours?

A.  The consular section is open to American Citizens on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 am to 11:00, on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Visa Services are offered on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., except on Maltese and American public holidays.  Applicants should not purchase airline tickets or commit themselves financially with any non-refundable bookings prior to obtaining a visa.  Only genuine emergencies will be seen outside those hours at the discretion of the Consul.

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS

How do I make an expedited appointment?

Have you tried scheduling an interview?  If not, please first schedule an interview. You must complete a DS-160 and schedule an interview before you can request an expedited appointment. Do not request an expedited interview if we already have available time slots for the date or dates you are able to appear for an interview.

The U.S. Embassy in Malta will accommodate requests for expedited interview appointments for humanitarian reasons or, on a space available basis, truly urgent business travel.  Failure to adequately plan ahead for business travel does not constitute an emergency.  Conference, seminar and tourist travel do not normally qualify as emergencies.

Once you have completed the DS-160 and scheduled an appointment, please email the Consular Section at ConsularMalta@state.gov to request an expedited appointment. 

My family member is in a hospital in the United States.  How can I get a visa to visit them?

Applicants for medical emergency cases will be accommodated on any day we are open.  You must present a letter from the hospital in the United States regarding the medical condition of the patient as well as other supporting documents, i.e., proof of relationship between the applicant and the patient, financial documents of the applicant, etc.  Please click here (LINK to “Applying for a U.S. Visa in Malta”) for more details on where to pay the visa application fee, how to complete a DS-160, photo requirements, and suggested documents to bring to the interview.

Please follow the instructions in Question 1, and then email the Consular Section at ConsularMalta@state.gov to request an expedited appointment.  Or you may contact the Section by phone between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. daily.  Every effort will be made to provide expedited service for such situations.

I need to attend my relative’s funeral in the United States.  How can I get a visa?

Please follow the instructions in Question 1, and then email the Consular Section at ConsularMalta@state.gov to request an expedited appointment.  Or you may contact the Section by phone between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. daily.  Every effort will be made to provide expedited service for such situations.