Harry and Meghan Markle decided to relocate with their son Archie to California earlier this year. Despite choosing to step away from his life as a senior royal, Harry remains sixth-in-line to the throne while Archie is seventh. Yet, moving to LA has presented some difficulties for Harry. While both Meghan and Archie are recognised US citizens, Harry was born and raised in the UK, making it difficult for him if his family wants to put permanent roots down there.
Applying to become an American citizen could force him to give up his royal titles, as the US Constitution refuses to recognise inherited titles and royalty is not acknowledged.
He would also have to pay US tax on his earnings, but as a spouse of a US citizen, he is still eligible to apply for permanent residency.
Yet a royal source said this was not a viable route for Harry when speaking to The Times in April.
They claimed: “The Duke has not made an application for dual citizenship and I don’t think he will apply for a green card at any point.”
In a white paper regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new status, international tax and immigration advisor David Lesperance gave further insight into why Harry is unlikely to apply for a Green Card — a permit for foreign nationals to work permanently in the US — either.
He wrote: “Harry has neither a US resident alien (aka ‘Green Card’) status nor spends enough time in the US to trigger the substantial presence test.
“Therefore unless he has US source income or American situs property he has no US tax or account reporting liability.
“Meghan could sponsor Harry for US status but has obviously been advised not to do so.”
The Times also remarked: “It is not known whether he entered America under the 90-day visa waiver programme available to most Britons or whether he has a diplomatic or other special visa.
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However, the Duke of Sussex would then have to identify his strongest field and be sponsored by an organisation.
Ms Karaahmet said: “The drawback of the O-1 is it does have to be renewed periodically and it requires him to continue that relationship with that organisation.”
So far Harry and Meghan have signed up to the same high-profile public speaking agency as Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.
The pair are also looking to launch their new charitable venture, Archewell, overseas following the dissolution of their Sussex Royal Foundation.
Megxit negotiations with Buckingham Palace concluded the pair could no longer use the term ‘royal’ after their decision to step away from official duties.
Harry’s sustainable travel project, Travalyst, was then registered as a limited company on April 3 this year and has not been registered with the Charity Commission.
Companies House claims that Harry also holds at least 75 percent of the shares in the travel initiative.
