The new rules affect nearly all non-EU citizens

I came to the UK about three years ago as a student. When I later got a job here my employer applied for a work permit for me, which came through last year.

My fianc�e and I met while I was at university. We've been living together now for three years and plan to get married in July at a Catholic church.

When my partner and I contacted the priest we were told we should go to the register office to give notice to marry about four months in advance of the wedding day.

But after I heard about the rule changes I contacted the local office and was told I'd come under the new scheme.

It's so demeaning having to apply for permission from the Home Secretary to get married. It's de-humanising, it's like saying that I am a second-class citizen.

The difficulty for us specifically is firstly that it's an added cost, marriages are already expensive, we're looking at around �12,000 for our wedding and now we have to pay another �135 for a certificate of approval.

And it is only valid for three months, so if I apply for it too early it will expire before I get married.*

'Raising money'

Also we're planning to go on honeymoon to Egypt so I need to get a visa for that. So our concern is when my passport goes off to the Home Office how long will it take before I get it back, everything is in jeopardy if they don't return it on time.

I pay my taxes like everybody else and I don't have access to many benefits that British people may have because of my status.

You may have some suspicious marriages taking place but I don't think this is the way to curb that.

What they should do is give registrars more training to recognise bogus marriages. You shouldn't have to get approval and pay for it before you see the registrar.

If you look at the number of foreign nationals getting married in a year and the kind of revenue they're going to be raising from this, I think it's more about raising money really.

* Under the new rules, foreign nationals who are resident in the UK and want to get married have first to apply for a certificate of approval from the Home Office, which is valid for three months.

Within this period, they must give notice of their intention to marry. This must be done at one of 76 designated register offices.