Will Prince Harry become a US citizen?
It's been a busy few days for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. They've not only wound up their UK office in Buckingham Palace after officially stepping back as working royals (their out of office is on, and everything), but have moved house (er, and country) in the midst of a global pandemic.
Before the borders between Canada and the USA shut due to the spread of coronavirus, the Sussexes made the decision to move from their temporary home in Vancouver, to Los Angeles, where Meghan is from. And it seems the move is permanent; a statement made on the couple's behalf earlier this week confirmed they plan to fund their own security protection in America going forward. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have no plans to ask the U.S. government for security resources. Privately funded security arrangements have been made," it read.
So it looks like baby Archie will grow up in California, in the sunshine and near to his grandma, Doria Ragland. But what does that mean for his dad, Prince Harry? Will he have to become a US citizen to reside in the country long-term, just as it was planned Meghan would do had they stayed in the UK for good?
It's not as simple as just... applying to be an American citizen; as a foreign-born person Harry would only be able to gain citizenship through 'naturalisation'. Because he's married to Meghan Markle, an American citizen, the Prince would have to wait three years before applying for his own citizenship. But throughout that time, he'd need a green card to allow him to live and work in the country.
How can he get one of those? Well, according to The Telegraph, who spoke to Matteo Carrera, an immigration law researcher for Cardozo Law School in New York, Harry may well be granted a green card as a result of being given diplomatic status.
"Given his wealth and status he would probably be classified as a British diplomat, entering the US on an A1 Visa," reports the Telegraph. Oh, to be a rich member of the royal family. How it opens up opportunities...
If he's not automatically granted diplomat status, there is another option for Harry. He could apply as a prominent "business man" with talents that are valuable to the US, or as an "alien of extraordinary ability". And, well, his massive platform and philanthropic work surely deems him of extraordinary ability. In this instance, he'd have to show letters of recommendation from people who have worked with him, which might include big names such as Barack and Michelle Obama. That should get him in the door.
But even if Harry does gain a green card either as a diplomat or due to his "extraordinary ability", that doesn't mean he will necessarily choose to become a citizen. As a born-member of the British royal family, he may want to keep a full citizenship to the UK and merely reside in a different country.
Whatever path he decides to take, we're sure Prince Harry will have no problem remaining in America with Meghan and Archie long-term, and we hope the family settle in to their new life quickly and happily.
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