Judge rules that Prince Harry's US visa application will be treated confidentially

A judge ruled that the Duke of Sussex's US visa application should remain confidential, even though he admitted to taking drugs in his memoirs.

Prince Harry wrote about using marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir, Spare, published in January 2023.

Visa applications ask about drug use – an issue that can cause an application to fail. A lawsuit brought by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation aimed to force the government to release the records to determine whether the prince had disclosed his use.

But US judge Carl Nichols ruled on Monday that “the public has no significant interest in disclosing the Duke's immigration records.”

“Like any foreign national, the Duke has a legitimate interest in maintaining his privacy regarding his immigration status,” he added.

Prince Harry moved to the United States in January 2020 after announcing that he and his wife Meghan Markle would step back from royal duties.

In a legal dispute last yearThe prestigious Washington, DC-based think tank argued that the “extensive and sustained” media coverage of Prince Harry's admitted drug use raised questions about whether the government properly vetted the Duke and followed proper procedures when he entered the country.

The US visa application forms will specifically ask you about your current and past drug use.

Drug use can lead to denial of applications for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, although immigration officials have discretion in making the final decision based on a number of factors.

In its lawsuit, the Heritage Foundation argued that under U.S. law, such a person is “generally barred from entering the country.”

In his memoirs, the Duke said cocaine “didn't do anything for me,” adding: “Marijuana is different, it actually really helped me.”

But Judge Nichols said the public interest in disclosing Prince Harry's immigration records was “outweighed by the Duke's interest in his privacy”.