text: 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 cannot 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 cannot 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.'
target: American transgender woman Hayley Carney has never met British fiancee .
  She will marry in hope of fulfilling 'lifelong dream' of becoming UK citizen .
  Said she believes Britons are more 'openly accepting of people like her'