Dramatic update to Prince Harry's US visa drama as new documents unearthed

By Emily Ferguson, Royal Editor

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 the immigration records to be made public, as taking drugs can be grounds for the US government to reject a US visa application. However, in March, a US judge ruled that matters concerning his visa were private and not to be disclosed.

However, new documents appear to have been unearthed 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.

An immigration expert told the Daily Mail that this type of visa allows someone free reign to come and go from the US as they please. 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.

"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."

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