Prince Harry might be living the American dream on what immigration experts are calling a “golden ticket” – a rare diplomatic visa that could let him stay in the United States forever, according to newly discovered documents from the Trump administration.
The Duke of Sussex’s immigration status has been a hot topic ever since he spilled the tea about his past drug use in his tell-all memoir Spare. The conservative Heritage Foundation has been fighting tooth and nail to get their hands on his visa application, arguing the public deserves to know if Harry was given special treatment. But fresh insights suggest the prince might be holding an ace up his sleeve: an A-1 visa reserved for royals and heads of state.
The Ultimate VIP Pass
Immigration lawyer Melissa Chavin has offered fascinating insights into what she reckons is Harry’s secret weapon for staying stateside. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she broke down how this isn’t your average visa.
The Department of State vets and issues the A-1 visa with little input from the Department of Homeland Security,” Chavin explained. She went on to suggest Harry’s probably been getting these visas his whole life: “Take his age and divide by five to figure out how many applications he has filed – so about eight applications.”
Here’s where it gets interesting: each A-1 visa lasts five years and lets you come and go as you please. But the real kicker? “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.”
Another immigration expert wasn’t mincing words, calling the A-1 visa a “golden ticket” that basically lets Harry “sit here forever.
Playing by Different Rules
The A-1 visa is like flying first class while everyone else is cramped in economy. It comes with perks that would make other immigrants green with envy. Legal experts say the security checks are way more relaxed compared to regular visa applications – basically, unless you’re on a terrorism watchlist, you’re probably good to go.
This could be a game-changer considering Harry’s candid confessions about experimenting with drugs in his memoir. While admitting to drug use can slam the door shut on most visa applications, the A-1 visa plays by its own rules.
Charlotte Slocombe from immigration firm Fragomen told Newsweek she initially thought Harry might be on an O-1 visa for people with extraordinary abilities, noting “that would give him more freedom.” But these new revelations suggest the royal route might be Harry’s ticket after all.
Royal Privilege at Its Finest
Here’s the beauty of it all: under US immigration law, the A-1 visa isn’t just for working diplomats grinding away at embassies. It also covers royal family members under the “Head of State” category. And get this – Harry doesn’t need to be clocking in for the Queen (or King) to qualify.
Immigration experts point out that while your average diplomat needs to be on official business, royals get a free pass. They meet the requirements “regardless of the purpose of the visit to the United States.” In other words, Harry can surf in Malibu, produce Netflix documentaries, or just chill in his Montecito mansion – it’s all good.
Keeping the Taxman at Bay
As if indefinite residency wasn’t sweet enough, the A-1 visa comes with major tax perks. Clayton Cartwright, who knows his way around US tax law, explained that diplomatic visa holders get to skip the whole US tax resident nightmare.
Prince Harry, if he is on an A-1 Head of State visa, will remain US tax nonresident regardless of his presence in the United States,” Cartwright explained. Translation: Harry doesn’t have to tell Uncle Sam about his bank accounts or pay US taxes on money he makes elsewhere. His financial business – and the Royal Family’s – stays between him and the British taxman.
It keeps private to Great Britain not just the foreign assets Prince Harry owns, but also other assets of the royal family on which he is listed,” Cartwright added, calling it “good diplomatic practice.
The Battle Rages On
Even though a judge ruled in March that Harry’s immigration files should stay under wraps, the Heritage Foundation isn’t giving up. They’re convinced the public has a right to know if Harry got the VIP treatment or conveniently forgot to mention his wild years on his application.
When the court finally released some documents in March, they were more blacked out than a classified CIA file. Homeland Security claimed that revealing Harry’s status could lead to “harassment” and “unwanted contact by the media and others.” (Because clearly, Harry’s never dealt with media attention before.)
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has dug up over 1,000 documents about Harry’s case scattered across various government departments. A federal judge is now playing referee, deciding what the public gets to see.
California Dreaming
Harry’s made it crystal clear he’s not packing up anytime soon. Last December, he said he “enjoys” life in the States and plans to stick around permanently. Since ditching their royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have been living their best life in a Montecito mansion with their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Harry’s camp insists he’s been straight-up honest on any visa applications. But if he’s really rocking an A-1 visa, he might never have needed to sweat the small stuff in the first place.
Sure, there are some downsides – he can’t vote or run for president (not that he’s shown any interest). But for someone who just wants to live his life away from the palace drama, this diplomatic golden ticket offers the perfect deal: stay as long as you want, keep your privacy, and let the lawyers sort out the rest.
As the legal drama continues and political tensions simmer, Harry’s potential A-1 visa status puts him in an exclusive club. It’s a reminder that even in America, some animals are more equal than others – especially if they’ve got a royal pedigree and a diplomatic passport.
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