Prince Harry
US attorney warns he could lose his US visa
Is Prince Harry at risk of losing his US visa?
© ZDF and AFP / Lawson, Danny
Prince Harry’s admission to drug use could jeopardize his US visa. There are “no exceptions for aristocrats,” according to a lawyer.
Prince Harry (38) revealed in his memoirs “Reserve” (Original: “Spare”) and in various television interviews that he had taken cocaine, cannabis and magic mushrooms in the past. This has now called immigration specialists into action.
They are demanding that the Duke of Sussex publish his US visa application. They want to check whether he stated his drug use in it before he emigrated to California in 2020 with his American wife Duchess Meghan (41) and their London-born son Prince Archie (3). As “Mail Online” further reportsUS immigration law provides for harsh penalties for lying to immigration officials, including deportation and disqualification from applying for citizenship.
Different views from different lawyers
Former US Attorney Neama Rahmani told the New York Post on Wednesday: “Admission of drug use is usually a ground for inadmissibility. That means Prince Harry’s visa should have been refused or revoked because he admitted to using cocaine, mushrooms and other drugs.” And the president of Los Angeles-based West Coast Trial Lawyers added that there was “no exemption for royal or recreational use.”
Texas immigration attorney Sam Adair said it’s “unlikely these admissions will be a problem” because there have been no criminal convictions. Attorney James Leonard also told the publication that a revelation in a book that “you experimented with drugs as a young man” would not be enough for immigration officials to launch an investigation into Harry’s status.
What questions did Harry answer when applying for a visa?
It is not known exactly what questions Prince Harry was asked when applying for his US visa, as it is not yet clear which visa he received. However, the relevant question in the ESTA application, which most UK tourists use, is “Have you ever broken any law affecting the possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs?” A “yes” usually leads to the rejection of the application.
As the British newspaper further reports, Harry and his team want to prevent the disclosure of his application documents.