Direct Consular Filing from Malta Through the U.S. Consulate General in Naples

Direct Consular Filing from Malta Through the U.S. Consulate General in Naples

If you’re a U.S. citizen living in Malta and wish to bring a close family member to the United States, you may, in limited circumstances, qualify for Direct Consular Filing (DCF). Under exceptional or urgent conditions, the U.S. Consulate General in Naples  may accept a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relatives, filed directly at the embassy. This process can significantly shorten the time it takes to begin immigrant visa processing, sometimes reducing the wait from many months to just a few weeks.

While DCF is not available for routine family-based petitions, the U.S. consulate in Naples reviews DCF requests on a case-by-case basis when specific qualifying criteria are met. All DCF cases for Maltese nationals are handled through the U.S. Consulate General in Naples. 

The U.S. Embassy in Malta’s Consular Section does not process immigrant visas at all, and the U.S. Consulate General in Naples is designated as the sole immigrant, fiancé(e), and diversity visa-issuing post in Italy, also responsible for processing these visa applications for residents of Italy, San Marino, the Vatican, and Malta. As a result, DCF cases from Malta are routed to Naples: immigrant visa petitions for Malta residents are processed through the Consulate General Naples Immigrant Visa Section for the interview and issuance stage.

What Is Direct Consular Filing (DCF)?

Under 9 FAM 504.2-2(A), immigrant visas cannot be issued without an approved petition from DHS (USCIS), except when a U.S. consular section abroad is authorized to “accept and approve” the petition itself. That is precisely what Direct Consular Filing allows.

DCF enables certain U.S. citizens residing abroad to file a Form I-130 directly with a U.S. embassy rather than sending it to a USCIS service center in the U.S. In qualifying cases, this can substantially shorten processing times.

In Malta, DCF is available only in exceptional circumstances, and approval of a DCF request is entirely at the discretion of the Consular Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Naples.

Recognized Exceptional Circumstances

The U.S. consulate in Naples considers DCF requests under circumstances such as:

• Military emergencies

• Medical emergencies affecting the petitioner or beneficiary

• Threats to personal safety, including domestic violence or regional instability

• Child “ageing out” (approaching 21 years of age)

• Recent naturalization of the U.S. citizen petitioner

• Adoption cases

• Short-notice U.S. job relocation or transfer

• U.S. military members stationed in Malta

• Widow(er) of a U.S. citizen self-petitioning

Applicants must clearly state which category applies and include documentation to substantiate the claim.

Filing Fee

The Form I-130 filing fee for DCF in Malta is $675 USD, payable directly to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Accepted payment methods at the U.S. Consulate General in Naples are typically:

• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover), or

• Cash in U.S. dollars or euros (if filing in person).

Embassy Review and Response

Once your DCF request is submitted, the Immigrant Visa Unit will typically respond within 3–5 business days.

If it is more convenient, you are able to mail in your application, rather than having to go to the consulate to submit your application. 

If approved for local filing, the embassy will allow you to mail in (or submit in person):

• The completed Form I-130

• Documentation supporting the exceptional circumstance

• Proof of U.S. citizenship and Maltese residence (e.g., residence permit)

• Civil documents for the beneficiary (passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)

You will then file your petition directly at:

U.S. Consulate General in Naples

Immigrant Visa Unit

Piazza della Repubblica, 

80122 Napoli, Italy

For U.S. Military Members and Federal Employees in Malta 

If you’re serving in the U.S. Armed Forces or employed by the U.S. government in Malta (for example, in Valletta or at multinational organizations), you may be eligible for DCF due to the urgency and mobility associated with your role.
This provision helps ensure families can relocate together during deployments or government transfers.

For Short-Notice Job Relocations

If you receive an unexpected job offer or a U.S. transfer requiring prompt relocation, you may qualify for DCF under the “Short-Notice Position Relocation” category.
Provide documentation such as:

• A formal job offer letter or transfer notice

• Employer confirmation of urgency or start date

• Any supporting correspondence that demonstrates the time sensitivity of your move

DCF in these cases enables families to relocate to the U.S. together, without months of separation due to standard USCIS timelines.

For Humanitarian or Emergency Circumstances

The DCF process may also be available for urgent humanitarian reasons, including:

• Serious medical conditions affecting the petitioner or beneficiary

• Threats to safety such as domestic violence or regional instability

The embassy reviews such requests with priority and discretion.

We Can Help You Today

At Blue Lake Law, we have extensive experience assisting U.S. citizens in Europe with Direct Consular Filing, including cases handled through the U.S. Consulate General in Naples.
We guide clients through every step—from preparing the DCF request email to compiling evidence and preparing for the consular interview.

If you’re living in Malta and facing an urgent or exceptional situation, contact us today for clear guidance and professional support. We can help you navigate the DCF process efficiently and effectively.