Immigration officials were also concerned the couple - who they woke up by visiting their Dunedin home at 8.10am - were not wearing wedding bands and took quarter of an hour to find their rings when asked to produce them.
Dorjee and Patricia Tsering are fighting a rearguard action to remain in the country after INZ decided the couple - who married in India before coming to New Zealand - were not in a credible, genuine, stable partnership.
Mr Tsering's visa expired in December, and he is now awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the Minister of Immigration against his being eligible for deportation.
Mr Tsering, a Tibetan exile, is 26 years younger than his New Zealand born, Dunedin-raised wife Patricia.
They married two weeks after meeting in 2016, and then moved to Dunedin, where Mrs Tsering was raised and where most of her family lives.
However, their plans to settle here permanently were derailed when Immigration officials arrived at their door early on October 3 to inspect their living arrangements and interview the couple.
Transcripts of the interviews have been released to the Otago Daily Times under the Official Information Act.
The couple were asked about previous relationships, how they met, how they became engaged, details of their wedding ceremony, the names of each-other's families, future plans, and whether they planned to have children.
Immigration regulations require partnership applicants to show they are in a ``genuine and stable'' relationship.
Wanting to have children is not one of the stated factors to be considered by INZ when assessing applications, although the regulation places no limits on factors to be considered by decision-makers.
The Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the grounds of family status.
``I am a New Zealand-born New Zealand citizen ... I am a mature, educated person able to make fast informed decisions because of my life experience,'' Mrs Tsering said yesterday.
``I also know about how to establish a stable relationship, and even if I chose to marry fast, I can assure you I have ability to make sound decisions.''
In an INZ response to submissions by the Tsering's lawyer, an official said inconsistencies raised in regard to why the couple had got married, their engagement and their having children, Mr Tsering's visa application should be declined.
``These inconsistencies lead to major concerns in regards to the intentions of entering into the relationship as they indicate a general lack of in-depth knowledge of one another as a couple, as well as lack of development of a genuine and credible relationship.''
Both the Tserings are adamant their marriage is not a sham, and their applications have been supported by letters written by many family, friends and referees. These include Thuten Kesang, Honorary Secretary of the Office of Tibet in New Zealand.
The Tserings held a ``Reaffirmation of Marriage'' ceremony late last year.
