Prince Harry’s lack of higher education could stop him moving to Canada under strict immigration rules, lawyer claims
PRINCE Harry's lack of higher education could prevent him moving to Canada, an immigration lawyer claims.
Prince Harry arrived in Vancouver on Tuesday morning to start a new life with Meghan and their eight-month-old son Archie after the pair stepped down from royal duties.
But settling down in Canada could prove tricky for the family under strict immigration rules.
Toronto-based lawyer Mario Bellissimo told the that Prince Harry's past work experience, his age, and the fact he did not go to university, would "weigh heavily against him" because it's unusual for anyone applying for immigration not to have any form of higher education.
After leaving posh Eton College in 2003 with a B in Art and a D in Geography at A-level, Prince Harry decided against going to university and instead started his Army career at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005, following a gap year where he travelled and worked in Africa and Australia.
Many of the applicants who are qualifying have higher education
Mario Bellissimo
Mr Bellissimo told the Metro: "It's definitely weighted heavily against him because you're credited all the way up the scale from PhD downwards.
"Many of the applicants who are qualifying have higher education.
"Some have PhDs, others have Masters. ‘But they clearly have university degrees of some type or other types of professional post-secondary degrees."
But despite serving in the Army for ten years, where he rose to the rank of Captain, this will not help Harry's application, according to Mr Bellissimo.
He explained: "As it stands right now, he will have a tough time. I don’t know if he will be going back to school."
"It might surprise people but Meghan is the more desirable applicant from the Canadian immigration perspective because of her work experience.
"She will likely have a good pathway because she has international recognition in an area of paid employment with acting."
Meghan also has a university degree to her name, graduating from US college Northwestern in 2003 with a double major in theatre and international studies before she went on to become an actress.
'HEAVILY AGAINST HIM'
Prince Harry, 35, flew from London to his new home in North America on Monday night, following his decision to leave the .
He said the move to step back had come after "months of talks after so many years of challenges.”
"I know I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option,” Prince said during a speech he made on Sunday night at a London dinner for supporters of his charity Sentebale.
According to the DailyMail.com, “Meghan has been telling her close friends that this is the best thing that could ever happen to Harry”
“That out of anyone he will flourish the most and that it was her love for him that made this possible,” the source said.
Meghan Markle has reportedly told close friends that the $14 million mansion the family has been staying at on Vancouver Island is “her happy place.”
She says “that in the last couple of months, she’s felt more at home than she ever did in the U.K.”
One friend told last week was miserable in Britain, not sleeping well and started having anxiety attacks.
Latest in news
She was said to want out after becoming worried that baby son Archie would grow up stifled by the constraints of royal life.
It’s unclear where the family plans to permanently live, but they are expected to take their time mulling over their plans while lapping up the luxury of their six-bedroom dream home.
Toronto is seen as the most likely new home for the family after Meghan spent seven years there while starring in television drama “Suits.”