Age Does Matter for Girl, 59 and Boy, 22 Says NZ Immigration Law
Immigration New Zealand refused to grant immigration application for an Indian boy, aged 22, married to an NZ woman, aged 59, New Zealand Herald reports.
Balwinder Singh and Glyn Kessel's relationship blossomed after meeting each other at a hair salon in Glenfield in 2013. At first they started texting each other casual messages until their exchange of texts developed in more intimate messages just within three weeks. After two months, they decided to get married.
According to Mr Singh, he was "madly, passionately in love" with Ms Kessel now Mrs Kessel-Singh and that the relationship had "hit off right from the start.
Their relationship could easily be viewed as a romantic case of whirlwind romance but due to their 37 years of age gap, the Immigration New Zealand doubted Mr Singh's real intention of marrying his wife. They think that their marriage is insincere and unstable.
Mr Singh accused the immigration office as being "ageist and racist" because he "could have gone gone with any other Kiwi girls, but I chose my wife because I loved her... Age is just a number. It is also wrong to question the cultural difference, because if I wanted to be fully Indian, I would have remained in India."
Mrs Kessel-Singh was a former resources manager and had a 37-year-old-son. He did not believe that his now husband Mr Singh started their relationship with a premeditated intention of obtaining residency in New Zealand.
In an interview with an immigration official, she was asked about how she feels about having in-laws younger than her, who are 46 and 45 years old.
Mrs Kessel-Singh said, "I don't give a stuff... I am 21 in my mind. It's not about age, it's about who you like. Age is not relevant."
Mr Singh came in New Zealand as an international student. After marrying, he applied for a work visa under the partnership category.
According to the deny letter from the Immigration New Zealand, "We have noted that you and your partner have a significant age gap, and noting the religious and cultural differences between you and your partner, we are not convinced that you and your partner have demonstrated that this relationship is likely to endure."
The letter said the burden to prove that their relationship is bounded with love and sincerity depends on the couple.
In an answer to Mr Singh's accusation that the Immigration New Zealand was being ageist and racist, Immigration NZ area manager Michael Carley said that the decision was made "after an extremely detailed and thorough assessment, which included visiting Mr Singh and his wife at their home and interviewing them both."
"The couple got married after an uncommonly short three-month courtship. It was noted during a visit to the couple's home that their living arrangement appeared to be akin to a boarding situation."
Two different immigration officials had assessed Mr Singh's application and both of them expressed the same concerns that the couple showed opposing views in as far as their future life together is concern.
Mr Singh, through Tuariki Delamere, appealed the decision to deny him a visa through filing a complaint against the officers for being discriminating over age, culture and religion in their decisions.
Mr Delamere said that Mr Singh can also appeal his case to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal if his appeal to Immigration NZ will be denied.
However, if the Immigration and Protection Tribunal decided to deny his appeal, Mr Singh can be deported back to his own country.