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Four decade age gap lovers fight NZ immigration refusal
| Published: | 12 Jul at 6 PM |
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Auckland couple Balwinder Singh, 22, and Glyn Kessel, 59, are fighting for their marriage after New Zealand’s immigration office refused Mr Singh a work visa.
The couple met last year in Glenfield, fell in love and married two months later, after which Balwinder, an Indian national, applied for a work visa in the partnership category. Immigration refused his application, implying that the marriage was not genuine due to the unusual age gap and would be unstable due to religious and cultural differences.
Mr Singh’s immigration agent, Tuariki Delamere, has already filed a complaint with Immigration New Zealand, stating that the decision was discriminatory against the couple for taking into account the age gap, religion and culture. The decision caused Mr Singh to lose his job and resulted in a serious financial situation as the couple were unable to pay their rent.
The unhappy pair have now moved to Dunedin in order for New Zealand-born Mrs Kessel-Singh to take up a new job in the hope that they can survive until immigration reconsiders its decision. According to Mr Singh, they are prepared to fight for as long as it takes to stay together as their love is genuine and very real to them despite the gap in their ages.
Area manager for NZ Immigration Michael Carley told the press that a response to the complaint will be given within 15 working days as specified, but would not comment further. In the meantime, Mr Singh has taken out a loan of NZ$6,000 to pay for appeals to both the NZ Protection Tribunal and NZ Immigration.
The couple met last year in Glenfield, fell in love and married two months later, after which Balwinder, an Indian national, applied for a work visa in the partnership category. Immigration refused his application, implying that the marriage was not genuine due to the unusual age gap and would be unstable due to religious and cultural differences.
Mr Singh’s immigration agent, Tuariki Delamere, has already filed a complaint with Immigration New Zealand, stating that the decision was discriminatory against the couple for taking into account the age gap, religion and culture. The decision caused Mr Singh to lose his job and resulted in a serious financial situation as the couple were unable to pay their rent.
The unhappy pair have now moved to Dunedin in order for New Zealand-born Mrs Kessel-Singh to take up a new job in the hope that they can survive until immigration reconsiders its decision. According to Mr Singh, they are prepared to fight for as long as it takes to stay together as their love is genuine and very real to them despite the gap in their ages.
Area manager for NZ Immigration Michael Carley told the press that a response to the complaint will be given within 15 working days as specified, but would not comment further. In the meantime, Mr Singh has taken out a loan of NZ$6,000 to pay for appeals to both the NZ Protection Tribunal and NZ Immigration.
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