Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Archie are staying in California. This is a simple proposition for the latter two, since they are all citizens of the United States; however, it is more complex for Harry, who was born in the United Kingdom.

According to a recent article in The Times, Prince Harry is entitled to become a permanent resident in the United States and then a citizen, but he will not seek either.

“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,” a royal source told The Times.

There are, however, other avenues by which Harry could lawfully reside and operate in the United States. The O-1 visa, which is reserved for “individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement” is one choice that’s often mentioned. “It is quite common for individuals to apply for O-1 classification if they can show that they rise to a very high level of accomplishment in their fields,” Parisa Karaahmet, a partner at immigration law firm Fragomen, told Town & Country recently.

Prince Harry must be sponsored by an organization that plans to partner with him to recognize the areas in which he excels in order to apply for an O-1 visa. An O-1 visa is granted for three years at a time and must be extended every year after that. With his philanthropic efforts, Prince Harry would have no trouble demonstrating exceptional talent — the Invictus Games, for example, will almost definitely get him an O-1 visa.

Given that Prince Harry is working two positions as of March 2021 — one as a “chief impact officer” for the life coaching company Better Up, and another as a “life coaching Tinder for millennials” at a “Californian startup,” according to the Daily Mail — the West Coast transplant would require a visa, green card, or other approved paperwork to obtain employment in the first place.

An O-1 visa can be approved in a matter of weeks and is used by celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Hugh Jackman.

It is eligible for “an individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics or the arts … who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally,” according to the O-1 visa website.

“Harry would have no problem getting the O-1 because he’s a prince,” said Doug Lightman, a New York-based immigration consultant, according to The Sun. “He’s travelled all over the world … and there is his work with Invictus. It’s going to be enough to qualify him .”

While the Daily Mail was unable to check with a Prince Harry spokesperson if the royal had received an O-1 visa, experts for the publication said it was the most possible scenario. Prince Harry, according to Lightman, will be eligible for the visa in many ways: “he’s travelled all over the world…and there is his work with Invictus,” the expert said, referring to the non-profit Invictus Games, which the royal created himself. “It’s going to be enough to qualify him.”

Some people think he should pursue citizenship.

Prince Harry should “droll all his titles and take American citizenship,” as per royal author Angela Levin, if he wants the “sort of freedom” that encourages him to comment on political matters.

“If he wants this sort of freedom he should drop all his titles and take American citizenship,” she told Express UK

“Of course having his titles has enabled him to do various lucrative deals but he can’t or shouldn’t have it both ways.

“I think Harry’s decision to lecture anyone on how to live, what to do and who to vote for is a misjudgement.

“And even more so in the United States.”

Ms Levin went on to say that Prince Harry, as a “a member of the Royal Family” who is also “using” his royal titles, should not speak out.

According to the Immigration and Nationalization Act, if Prince Harry wishes to become a US citizen, he will be required to expressly renounce whatever rank or order of nobility he holds before obtaining US citizenship.

Despite the Queen’s removal of several honorary military appointments and royal patronages from Prince Harry and Meghan, they are still known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Furthermore, Prince Harry will be required to pay worldwide taxes if he obtains US citizenship, The National Law Review reveals.