Harry's lack of work experience, university degree means he'll have to rely on Meghan to settle down in Canada
Prince Harry's lack of a university degree or any form of higher education might hinder his bid to settle down in Canada, an immigration expert has claimed.
The Sussexes had shocked the world earlier this month when they announced that they would be stepping back from royal duties to start a new life and have since both flown to Canada with son Archie. However, if they intend to stay there permanently, they may yet face hurdles despite their status as members of the royal family, with Canadian lawyer Mario Bellissimo, 35, telling Metro that Harry's past work experience and the fact he did not go to university would "weigh heavily against him" in the immigration application process.
Both Harry and Meghan will have to apply for permanent residency, and Bellissimo said it was unusual for anyone to do so without having any form of higher education.
"It’s definitely weighted heavily against him because you’re credited all the way up the scale from Ph.D. downwards," he explained. "Many of the applicants that 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."
Unlike William, who studied at St. Andrews University before joining the Royal Air Force, Harry enlisted in the military directly out of school. Though he did serve for 10 years and rise to the rank of Captain, his military background will not aid him in any way in the immigration process.
Furthermore, Harry's philanthropic work will not be credited either, with the Canadian immigration system preferring self-employed candidates and those with a "proven track record of business management."
The situation is such that Harry might just have to rely on his wife to be the primary application as she is the more favorable candidate because she spent several years earning money in Toronto while filming 'Suits.'
"It might surprise people but Meghan is the more desirable applicant from the Canadian immigration perspective because of her work experience," Bellissimo said. "She will likely have a good pathway because she has international recognition in an area of paid employment with acting."
"International recognition is not enough. It has to be in an area where you earn an income, either through the direct self-employment, or work experience in that same area," he continued, adding that Harry's global recognition might aid him, but that being a part of the royal family had no "constitutional citizenship benefits."