The Otago Daily Times yesterday reported on the plight of Dorjee and Patricia Tsering, who married in India last year after a whirlwind courtship.
Immigration New Zealand , which sent investigators on an unannounced early morning visit in October to question the couple, does not believe the couple have a valid relationship.
Mr Tsering, a performer, is now liable for deportation.
"Without wanting to make aspersions upon the persons who went in to the house and made that report, that was the easiest option wasn’t it? It’s a bit unusual, let’s throw it to the wall," Mr Gourlie said.
INZ staff made an unannounced visit to the Tserings around 7.30am on October 3.
A subsequent letter to the couple denying Mr Tsering’s visa application said observations Mrs Tsering had few items of clothing in the apartment while Mr Tsering had his clothing and performing costumes there were among factors which showed the couple had not met "living together" requirements.
Mrs Tsering said she had a great deal of clothing in the apartment and has supplied INZ with a full inventory.
"They told them that they didn’t have enough clothes," Mr Gourlie said.
"I came down here after the Christchurch earthquake and everything which came out of our house in Christchurch is just sitting in one big room.
"Someone could come to our house and say we’ve not really settled here.’’On Tuesday, INZ said it stood by its investigator’s findings.
"Every application is assessed very robustly to maintain the integrity of the immigration system," INZ area manager Marcelle Foley said.
The Tserings are adamant theirs is a true marriage and have Indian and Tibetan papers which certify their wedding.
They deny INZ concerns about the age difference between the couple and the fact they married within weeks of meeting mean they are not truly married.
Peter Strang, — former director of Student Health at the University of Otago and Mrs Tsering’s uncle, and Associate Professor John Harraway, from the University’s Statistics department and chairman of the body corporate of the building where the Tserings live, have vouched for the couple and supplied references to INZ.
Mr Gourlie met the Tserings on Tuesday and has since raised their case with local Members of Parliament.
"This is a legitimately married couple with exemplary referees," Mr Gourlie said.
"They are working, they are involved in the community. They are not sitting down and asking for a hand-out, they have simply saying let’s have what seems legitimately asked."
Mr Gourlie said he would continue to help the Tserings and also planned to ask the Multi-Ethnic Council to support the couple as well.Mr Gourlie said each person’s case was unique, but the council had received so many similar complaints from people who said they had difficulties or delays when dealing with INZ that it was time the department opened a Dunedin office rather than relying on out-of-town investigators or case managers.
"We have a dealt with a number of cases this year where applications have been unusual or some information wasn’t in the correct order, and it seems to default automatically to no acceptance of the application," Mr Gourlie said.
"Visas should take 4-6 weeks and now they are taking several months and having spoken to staff more and more they have suggested the work is such that they just don’t get to it, and so people often don’t end up with a case manager until they are at a critical stage."
A Dunedin INZ office would mean dedicated staff would be on hand to deal with visa applicants and be better placed to deal with unusual applications like the Tserings’, Mr Gourlie said.
"Somebody with local knowledge would be able to contact the people who they have supporting them, and see that they [the Tserings] have a legitimate case."
INZ had no further comment on the case when contacted by the ODT yesterday.
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the righteousness of the public service and servants and i also wonder if the man had been 54 and the woman 28 would this conversation be happening. outrageous behaviour towards people who are only doing good in the world.