2024-03-04 17:59:23
Prince Harry is in legal trouble again. This time it’s about his visa. Could he have ruined his future in the USA by making false statements?
Prince Harry feels comfortable in his adopted home in the USA. So much so that he recently stated in an interview that he was thinking about becoming a US citizen. He has been living in California with his wife Duchess Meghan and their two children for four years. They have said goodbye to their lives and duties in the British royal family.
But there is no real peace and quiet for the family. At first they stirred up a lot of dust themselves by publicly settling scores with the royal family through several channels. But Harry also repeatedly found himself in the headlines through court proceedings – most recently it was about the security measures for him and his family in Great Britain.
And now this: Could Harry’s stay in the United States, where he finally seems to have found peace, be at risk? The US conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation is trying to get the court to force Homeland Security to publish its visa application.
The reason: Harry opens up about his experiences with illegal substances in his memoir “Spare”, telling of experiences with marijuana, cocaine and mushrooms. In the eyes of the think tank, these should have been a reason for his visa to be rejected. The other side speaks out against the release of the documents and points out that visa applicants have a right to privacy.
Even Donald Trump is getting involved
The United States immigration authorities are notoriously strict, including when it comes to drugs. If applicants confirm with a cross that they have consumed drugs, the application can be rejected. Truthfully, Prince Harry should have ticked the box and thus risked being rejected. That’s why the question now arises: Did the royal lie? Or is he tolerated despite his previous drug use and even given preferential treatment because of his position?
Donald Trump, who is currently fighting to return to the White House, also commented on the issue in the newspaper “Daily Express US” and railed against the prince: “I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the queen. That’s unforgivable . If it were up to me, he would be on his own.” He is angry at the government of incumbent US President Joe Biden for protecting Harry by keeping his visa application secret.
But how big is the trouble for Prince Harry actually? Does he have to worry about his residence permit? What happens if it turns out he lied? t-online spoke to Thomas Schwab, lawyer at the Winheller law firm, and asked for an assessment. The lawyer specializes in, among other things, visa and immigration law in the USA and is also a certified emigration consultant.
“Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?”
It is not known what type of visa Harry applied for at the time. However, Thomas Schwab believes: “His wife is an American, so he could have received a green card through her. This also seems plausible because he is thinking about US citizenship and you can usually only get it if you previously lived in the USA for some time with a green card.” The green card would not only give Harry permanent residency, but also a general work permit.
But where did Harry tick the question about drug use? Did he deal honestly with his past, not only when asked “Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?” (“Are you or have you ever been a drug user or addict?”) must answer yes.
Also the question “Have you ever violated, or engaged in a conspiracy to violate, any law relating to controlled substances?” (Have you ever violated or participated in a controlled substance law violation?) may be answered in the affirmative. Because if “the drug use was illegal in the country in which it was practiced, then by disclosing that the applicant has consumed drugs, they are usually admitting that they have violated the laws of their country,” explains Schwab.