Court records pertaining to Prince Harry's application for a U.S. visa have been made public. But important elements are still unknown. His "exact status" is kept secret by heavily redacting the paperwork. The publication comes after the conservative think group Heritage Foundation filed a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request.

Redacted Documents Released

After the Heritage Foundation filed a Freedom of Information request, a U.S. court made the materials public. According to this conservative research organization, Prince Harry might have covered up his previous drug use. He acknowledged taking hallucinogenic mushrooms, cocaine, and marijuana in his memoir Spare.

Drug use, both past and present, is a question on U.S. visa applications. Denial may result from acknowledging drug use. Immigration authorities do, however, have the power to decide each case individually. The materials made public did not contain the prince's real visa application.

The judge decided he might face harassment if he revealed his visa status. "To disclose his precise status could expose him to reasonably foreseeable harm in the form of harassment and unwanted contact by the media and others," the documents said.

Additionally, the court pointed out that there was no hard evidence that Prince Harry was given preferential treatment. The allegations made by the Heritage Foundation did not prove government wrongdoing.

Drug Use in Spare

Prince Harry acknowledged using cocaine at the age of 17 in the movie Spare. He claimed that although the encounter was uneventful, it left him feeling "different." Additionally, he revealed that marijuana affected him more deeply.

He and his friends smoked cannabis in a tiny restroom at Eton. After that, they would giggle excessively while watching Family Guy. He also described a bizarre magic mushroom encounter at Courteney Cox's home. He was so drunk that he thought a pedal trashcan had a face and was smiling at him.

Whether he revealed this past on his visa application was called into question by these confessions.

Legal Battle Over Disclosure

The Heritage Foundation advocated for Prince Harry's immigration records to be fully public. They contended that thanks to his money and prestige, he might have been able to circumvent standard visa requirements. However, the court decided privacy issues were more important than the general welfare.

Government representatives cautioned that disclosing his visa information would result in harassment and stressed that sensitive personal data was included in the records.

The Heritage Foundation is still not happy with the limited release. They assert that the Department of Homeland Security has not supplied all pertinent documents. They may pursue additional disclosures, which might lead to more legal challenges.

In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to the United States. It is uncertain what kind of visa he has.

FAQS

Why were the records of Prince Harry's US visa sought?

To find out if Prince Harry revealed his history of drug usage on his visa application, the Heritage Foundation submitted a Freedom of Information request. It was unclear from his admissions in Spare if he was given preferential treatment.

Can a history of drug usage affect an application for a US visa?

Indeed. Applicants for US visas are required to report any prior drug use. Immigration officers have the authority to approve cases based on other factors, but admitting to it might result in the refusal of a visa.