But neither Mr Morrison nor Miss Brooks were able to find jobs so they could not afford to complete Miss Brooks' residency papers - so after nine months she was forced to return to the United States when her visa expired.
Since then, Mr Morrison graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Business degree and has since been unsuccessfully searching for a job in marketing.
However, he has become so desperate that he said he would take anything.
"I've been looking for all sorts of work ... at this point I'd do almost anything,'' he said.
The couple need $2000 to pay for Miss Brooks' one-way ticket and for the immediate immigration procedures.
Miss Brooks, 23, said her other half has been sinking into depression the longer he goes without seeing her and without getting work.
"Our hearts break more each day. We're still young, and that time together is being lost quickly,'' Miss Brooks said.
Mr Morrison said he could see their separation was taking its toll on her also.
"I can see her missing me and I can see her getting upset sometimes. It gets hard sometimes,'' he said.
"She's the one. I mean, I wouldn't go through all this trouble if I didn't think she was worth it.''
Miss Brooks said she also would not be putting herself through all this unless she knew Mr Morrison was "the one''.
"People don't stay together over lesser things, and that always surprises us. I think Kiel and I knew we had something special even when we were younger. You don't see it every day, and neither of us wants to do anything with our lives but be with one another.
"We plan to get married, and be together always. We'd do anything for each other. He's my one and only sweetheart.''
