Liam Payne was forced to extend his trip to Argentina after his visa application to stay in the United States was initially rejected due to his drug abuse, a close friend has revealed.
The One Direction star traveled to Buenos Aires to renew his ‘extraordinary achievements’ visa, which would allow him to continue his new life in Florida with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
But his application was not accepted because he admitted to abusing alcohol and drugs and was forced to undergo medical and psychiatric tests.
However, he was finally authorized and had the visa stamped in his passport on Friday, just two days after he died after falling from his hotel balcony.
“Everyone is devastated,” a member of his inner circle revealed. “Kate is destroyed.”
Liam Payne was forced to extend his trip to Argentina, which he initially took with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy (seen with the singer), after his visa application to remain in the United States was initially rejected due to his drug abuse, as reported by a close friend. revealed
The One Direction star fell to his death from the third floor of his room at the CasaSur Hotel (pictured) in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
He had been in town to renew his “extraordinary achievement” visa, which would allow him to continue his new life in Florida with Mrs. Cassidy.
People bringing tributes to the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on Saturday afternoon in Buenos Aires
Fans comforted each other as they flocked to pay their respects.
His friend explained how Payne had had to go abroad to renew his ‘O-1 non-immigration’ visa and decided to apply at the US embassy in Buenos Aires so he could see his former bandmate Niall Horan perform. in concert.
“Liam had to get an extension of his US visa,” the friend said.
‘I had an O-1 visa, which is for artists, athletes and other people with extraordinary achievements.
‘But one of the questions on the form is: “Have you ever abused alcohol or drugs?” Liam’s problems with drugs and alcohol are well documented.
‘It’s widely known that he had been in rehab in America, so he had to tick the box, and that’s why he had to have medical tests. He had to be examined by a doctor and a psychiatrist.
‘This all took time. Liam was then forced to stay in Buenos Aires longer than he had planned.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website describes the O-1 nonimmigrant visa as being for an “individual who possesses extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated track record of extraordinary achievements in the field.” film or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.
Payne, 31, was given a clean bill of health after medical and psychiatric tests, his friend says, but died before his passport could be stamped with his renewed visa.
Kate had originally flown with Liam to Buenos Aires to see his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert on October 4.
The couple appeared together at Wimbledon last year.
Liam rose to fame with the band One Direction. He is pictured with his bandmates (left-right) Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.
Fans seen mourning the singer’s death in Buenos Aires on Thursday after the news was confirmed.
Fans crying at the hotel where Liam died on October 19
“The test results were good,” the friend revealed. ‘Liam was 100 percent sober.
‘He was supposed to have a meeting at the embassy on Thursday and pick up his visa on Friday.
“The last time I spoke to Liam, I had no idea he was going to do something stupid.” Payne arrived in Argentina with Cassidy on October 1 in time to see Horan’s concert at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires the following night.
The couple initially stayed at a luxury Airbnb property in the Argentine capital, but were forced to move when Payne’s visa application was delayed and his reservation expired.
The singer then checked into the CasaSur boutique hotel, while Cassidy returned to her Miami home on October 12.
Four days later, he jumped to his death from the balcony of his third-floor suite.