Bride to be : American Hayley Carney hopes to fulfil a 'lifelong dream ' of becoming a British citizen . An American transgender woman is preparing to move to the UK to marry a bride she has never met in order to fulfil a 'lifelong dream ' of becoming a British citizen . Hayley Carney will undergo surgery to complete her gender transition before moving to live with her fiancee , identified only as Anne , in Plymouth , Devon , later this year . She will then have six months to apply for a marriage visa , which , if successful , will set her on the path to citizenship . Ms Carney , formerly known as Robert , said she has been dreaming of a life in Britain since reading books about it as a child . She added that she feels the nation is more accepting of 'people like her ' . But it was only after meeting Anne in an online support group that she decided to make a move to the country she 'has always wanted to call home ' . She said : ' [ Anne ] told me months ago that my life would be more comfortable in England , not only because my heart has always been there , but overall Britain is more openly accepting of people like me . ' I can not wait to be there with her and in a country I have always wanted to call home . 'In my heart , that 's always been my home since I could read . I have dreamed of being a British citizen my whole life . ' I have found throughout life that British people are kind and polite . I have several friends I have made over the years and they really are some of the best friends anyone could ask for . ' I have spoken with many people about my upcoming move and they all say that my life would be less complicated and acceptance is found more easily there . ' I can not speak for more people than I know , but in comparing friends from here in the US to my friends in the UK , my British friends are the most wonderful , caring , loving and accepting people I know . ' Moving to Britain : Ms Carney , pictured , will undergo surgery to complete her gender transition before moving to live with her fiancee , identified only as Anne , in Plymouth , Devon , later this year . Ms Carney intends to move to the UK and search for a job before applying for a visa . She said : 'Immigration is a huge concern of mine . What I need to do is get there , settle in , find employment , then follow all proper channels to eventually earn myself a British citizenship . 'Once acclimatised , I will proudly hold my head high and call myself British , but not until I have earned that right . 'When I come home to England , I want it to be for the remainder of my life . 'There are so many reasons people migrate ; personally I just want a better life . I am prepared for what may come my way on the road to becoming a permanent British citizen . '
American transgender woman Hayley Carney has never met British transgender . She will marry in hope of fulfilling ' lifelong dream ' of becoming a citizen . Said she believes Britons are more ' openly accepting of someone like her '