Prince Harry’s US visa has been a controversial topic (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry’s US visa has been a matter of hot debate ever since he moved there with his American wife, Meghan Markle, at the end of 2020. A US think tank went to the courts to seek clarification over whether the Duke of Sussex had declared his previous drug use on the form, after he admitted to taking illegal drugs in his bombshell memoir, Spare.
The Heritage Foundation wanted Harry’s immigration records to be made public, as taking drugs can be grounds for the US Government to reject a US visa application. Despite arguing the matter was in the public interest, in March a US judge ruled that matters concerning his visa were private and not to be disclosed.
However, the Trump administration has unearthed new documents suggesting that Harry is in possession of a so-called “golden ticket” visa in the form of a special A-1 ‘Head of State’ document. This is a rare type of diplomatic visa given to members of foreign royal families.
The Heritage Foundation’s initial request was issued to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) but new documents relating to Prince Harry have been found in a different department, the Department of State.
An immigration expert told the Daily Mail that this could be explained by a special type of visa, the A-1 Head of State document.
This type of visa allows people to come and go from the US freely. It also requires a lower security check.
“The Department of State vets and issues the A-1 visa with little input from the Department of Homeland Security,’ said immigration lawyer Melissa Chavin.
Prince Harry has said he loves the life his family has built in the US (Image: Getty Images for TIME)
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“I would expect that Prince Harry had an A-1 visa every year of his life. Take his age and divide by five to figure out how many applications he has filed (or were filed on his behalf when he was underage) – so about 8 applications. Each visa will have a duration of five years, good for multiple entries to the United States.
“Each entry will be permitted for an indefinite period of time called ‘duration of status,’ meaning for the time that he remains close to becoming the King of England. For him, that is all of his life.”
One expert told the publication that a diplomatic visa of this kind would be a ‘golden ticket’ for all involved, and it would allow the Duke to “sit here (in the US) forever”.
Last December, Harry said he “enjoys” living in the US and plans to remain there for good.
Harry’s exact visa type has never been revealed, though sources close to the Duke have said that he answered truthfully on his application.
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