Thread: NZ groom could be banned from US wedding

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3328170a10,00.html

NZ groom could be banned from US wedding
28 June 2005

Kiwi Scott Downie's American bride-to-be in the state of Maine has just been told she may be missing the main man at her wedding.


Lauren Goodine, of Waterville, Maine, has been told the United States government may not let her fiance back into the country in time for their wedding on July 23.

In fact, Mr Downie, who is alleged to have overstayed on a previous visit to the USA, may not be allowed back for 10 years.

Meanwhile, Ms Goodine has sent out the wedding invitations, the bridesmaids are buying their dresses, a caterer and photographer have been hired, and relatives from both families have bought their plane tickets.

"I was expecting him to be here Wednesday," Ms Goodine, 26, told the Central Maine Morning Sentinel newspaper. "It was just like the carpet had been pulled out from under me because I hadn't seen him in so long."

The United States consul in Auckland wrote to Ms Goodine last Thursday saying Mr Downie had been refused an immigration visa for being in the United States unlawfully more than 365 days in 10 years.

He said a waiver of ineligibility could be considered by the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Bangkok, Thailand.

But the consul, Richard Adams, warned the couple that even where the applicant was the spouse of a US citizen, such waiver procedures were lengthy, and: "There is no guarantee that Homeland Security will issue a waiver to Mr Downie".

Ms Goodine told the Morning Sentinel that she and Mr Downie acknowledged he had broken the law and said they were willing to do whatever was asked of them to make up for the mistake.

She said friends and family on both sides had already purchased plane tickets for the wedding, which was to be held in her parents' backyard.

Ms Goodine and Mr Downie, 34, met in Waterville four years ago, and he had since then been visiting the United States for several years on and off, working at summer camps and doing other jobs, she said.

They became engaged in January while she was visiting him in New Zealand and immediately set the wedding date. They applied for a "fiance visa", which requires them each to be in their home countries for 90 days, so she returned home.

Ms Goodine only learned last week after Mr Downie's interview with immigration officials that he had been issued with a mandatory 10-year suspension from the United States.

They are now applying for a waiver and enlisting help from family and friends, who have written letters of petition to the US Government.

A local politician, Senator Olympia Snowe, is also working on the case at Ms Goodine's request. "Hopefully, she'll (Ms Goodine) have at least an answer before the 23rd on the waiver," said Senator Snowe's press secretary, Preston Hartman.

Ms Goodine could move to New Zealand, but said that would be devastating for her and her large, close-knit family. She works as a graphic artist in the family photographic business.

Her parents, John and Celine Goodine, own Elm City Photo, which has two shops in Waterville and Augusta. Her brother, Luke, is sales and front desk manager and her sister, Carmen, a laboratory technician.

"Luke and I actually plan on taking over the business when our parents retire," Ms Goodine said.

Her mother said her daughter's absence would mean a serious loss to the small business, which the family started in 1946.

"She does all our design work and all our logos for the business," said her mother Celine Goodine.

About 200 guests, including Ms Goodine's 90-year-old grandfather, Lionel Giguere, had been expected to attend the ceremony, and Ms Goodine said she feared she would never see her grandfather again if she moved to New Zealand.

All he has to do is fly into Mexico....need I say more.

They can let murders, pedophiles, gang bangers, and every other criminal in this country and they persecute him!

What a crock!