Immigration has ruled an English midwife has not lived with her Kiwi husband long enough to stay in the country.

Fiona Witt has worked in Auckland for three years. Her work visa expires next month just a few days before Christmas.

She married her New Zealand husband Matt a year ago, but because of their religious beliefs they didn't live together before marriage.

Witt told Mike Hosking that because of this, when she applied for a partner visa it was denied.

"They said that our relationship doesn't count because we weren't living together. So I couldn't actually apply for a visa as his wife."

Witt said she doesn't want to go.

"I really don't want to leave my husband or my friends. I don't know what I'm gonna do," she tearfully told Hosking.

Her employers are doing everything they can to help Witt stay in the country and not be separated from her loved ones in the week before Christmas.

LISTEN ABOVE AS FIONA TELLS MIKE HOSKING HER STORY