European mail order brides, including Maltese women, require a K-1 visa (fiancé visa) to legally enter the United States for marriage. This is the standard U.S. immigration pathway for marrying a foreign bride. The K-1 process takes approximately 6-12 months for approval and costs around $1,000-2,000 in government fees, potentially reaching $2,000 total if you hire an immigration lawyer (strongly recommended to avoid complications and paperwork errors).
K-1 Fiancé Visa Requirements
The K-1 visa process requires both parties to prove your relationship is genuine using evidence like emails, chat logs, photos together, and flight itineraries. The American citizen must demonstrate financial capability to support the European bride as husband-typically requiring income at 100% of federal poverty guidelines (approximately $22,000 for a household of two in 2024). Both parties must prove they're legally free to marry (not currently married to others).
Critically, the couple must have met in person at least once within the two years before filing the visa petition. This in-person meeting requirement cannot be waived except in extremely rare circumstances. This means you must travel to Malta (or she must visit the US on a tourist visa) before beginning the K-1 process. Save all documentation: flight tickets, hotel receipts, dated photos, restaurant bills-immigration officers verify the meeting occurred.
Timeline and Process Steps
Step 1: File Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé) with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Current processing time: 6-9 months. Cost: $535 filing fee.
Step 2: USCIS approval transferred to National Visa Center (NVC), then forwarded to US Embassy in Malta (located in Ta' Qali). Timeline: 2-4 weeks for transfer.
Step 3: Your Maltese fiancée completes visa application (Form DS-160), pays visa fee ($265), and schedules medical examination with embassy-approved physician in Malta. Timeline: 2-4 weeks to schedule interview.
Step 4: Embassy interview at US Embassy Malta. Your fiancée attends interview with required documents (passport, birth certificate, police certificate, medical exam results, evidence of relationship). Most Maltese applicants receive approval same day if documentation is complete. Visa valid for 6 months; she must enter US within this period.
Step 5: Marriage within 90 days of US entry. The K-1 visa requires marriage within 90 days of arrival. Your Maltese bride cannot leave and re-enter the US during this period without special permission.
Step 6: Apply for green card (adjustment of status, Form I-485) after marriage. Cost: approximately $1,200. Processing time: 10-14 months. Once approved, your Maltese wife receives a 2-year conditional green card, which converts to a 10-year permanent green card after demonstrating the marriage is genuine.
Malta-Specific Advantages
Maltese citizens benefit from several advantages in the US visa process. As EU citizens, Maltese women can visit the US for up to 90 days visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), making initial in-person meetings easier to arrange. English fluency eliminates translation requirements for interviews and documentation. Malta's low crime rate and strong US relationship mean Maltese applicants face minimal security screening delays that affect applicants from higher-risk countries.
Legal and Financial Planning
Total K-1 visa and green card costs approach $3,000 when including filing fees ($535 + $265 + $1,200), medical examination (~$200), document translations if needed, and potential immigration lawyer fees ($1,500-3,000). Budget an additional $500 for unexpected costs, document apostilles, and expedited processing if needed.
Hiring an immigration lawyer is strongly recommended despite the added cost. Immigration applications with attorney assistance have significantly higher approval rates, and errors or omissions can delay the process by months or lead to denial. A qualified immigration attorney familiar with K-1 visas will review all documents, identify potential issues before filing, and represent you if problems arise.
After marriage, your Maltese bride cannot work legally until she receives her Employment Authorization Document (EAD), typically arriving 3-5 months after filing for adjustment of status. Plan financially to support both of you during this period. She also cannot travel outside the US until receiving advance parole (travel permission), typically arriving simultaneously with the EAD.