据新西兰中华新闻网援引英文先驱报消息，日前，奥克兰机场拦截了一名持有毕业生求职工作签证的中国留学生，理由是在她的行李中发现了大量用于性工作的工具。
移民局情报、风险、诚信部总经理Steve Stuart表示，这名20余岁的中国女留学生，持有厨师工作资格证，但她承认自己是在奥克兰市中心的一间按摩院兼职工作。当她在机场被拦截后，移民局工作人员通过询问获取相关信息，加上她行李中发现大量用于性工作的工具。因此，移民局相信她是在新西兰做商业性性服务工作，并且打算继续做此行业。
依照新西兰移民法令，该女子违反了学生签、工作签和旅游签持有者不得在新西兰境内从事商业性性服务工作的条款。同时考虑到她是“屡犯”，违反签证规定的风险很高，所以决定其不能入境。
据悉，目前该名女子正在寻找合适的签证顾问帮她争取权益，希望回到新西兰。
# Prostitutes kept out despite visas
Work visa holders moonlighting in part-time sex work are being denied entry to New Zealand.
In the 12 months to April, 45 foreigners holding valid working visas were refused entry for breaching their visa conditions, including working as prostitutes.
A North Shore International Academy graduate on a job search work visa was last month turned away at Auckland Airport after a baggage check found items used for sex work.
The Chinese woman, in her 20s, with qualifications to work as a chef, admitted to working part-time at a massage parlour in central Auckland.
Steve Stuart, intelligence risk and integrity general manager, said she was interviewed by the agency on May 21 upon her return from a holiday in China.
"Information obtained during the interview, together with items found in the passenger's luggage, indicated that the passenger had been working in New Zealand providing commercial sexual services and intended to continue doing so," he said.
Mr Stuart said that under the Immigration Act 2009, it is against the law for holders of temporary visas, such as student, work or visitor, to provide commercial sexual services while in the country.
"The passenger had also previously breached the conditions of her visa by studying in New Zealand for longer than three months without a student visa," he said.
"There was significant likelihood that the passenger would again breach her visa conditions and she was therefore denied entry."
Nearly one in four, or 24.5 per cent, of work visa holders who had been refused entry in the last year were China nationals.
Of the 45, three had held graduate job search visas, while others obtained work visas through partnership (six), working holiday (25), essential skills (three), specific purpose (seven) and one who was the partner of a worker.
A Chinese chef, whose visa was cancelled last year, said Immigration should be "sympathetic" to visa holders who did a second job.
The chef, also in her 20s, had worked in a Panmure brothel on her days off where she claimed she was paid upwards of $80 an hour, compared with $10 at the restaurant.
"There is a minimum wage in New Zealand, but the reality is that most migrant workers don't get paid that," said the chef, who did not want to be named.
"The only way we can pay our rent is to find a second job, and usually the only other work we can find is sex work."
She was keen to return to New Zealand, but was struggling to find a "good immigration adviser" to represent her.
Research on migrant sex workers by the Prostitutes Collective found nearly one in six were temporary visa holders. These included 13 per cent who held a work visa, and 19 per cent on visitor or tourist visas.
More than a quarter, or 27 per cent, were international students.
The study also found that 86 per cent of migrant prostitutes here were from Asia.
Denied entry
Work visa holders between May 2012 and April 2013
45 refused entry to NZ
11 from China
4 from Ireland
3 from United Kingdom/Chile
(Source: Immigration New Zealand)
# Immigration New Zealand uncovers fraud in student visa applications
Immigration fraud has been uncovered through routine random sampling of student visa applications through Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) Beijing branch.
The Head of Immigration, Steve Stuart, says the fraud targeted student visas and consisted predominantly of fake qualifications and falsified bank statements.
Mr Stuart says 279 applications have been confirmed to contain some form of fraud. A total of 231 people who fraudulently obtained a visa are presently in New Zealand. The other 48 people have either already left New Zealand or have not yet travelled here and will be prevented from doing so.
“Of the 231 individuals who are in New Zealand 60 are unlawful as their visas have expired and they are liable for deportation,” he says. “The remaining 171 are on valid visas and they may become liable for deportation depending on their individual circumstances.”
An operation has begun today to contact and interview the people implicated in the fraudulent activity. This investigation is likely to take several weeks. Each case will be considered on its merits but those implicated are liable to be served Deportation Orders if unlawful or served Deportation liability Notices if on a valid visa.
Mr Stuart is urging anyone in this situation to contact Immigration New Zealand on 0508 558 855 to discuss their individual circumstances. “It’s important to note that, as opposed to anyone who departs voluntarily, anyone who is deported is unable to return to New Zealand for five years,” Mr Stuart says.
A total of 20 education providers – all in the Auckland area – have been identified as having enrolled people implicated in the fraud.
“There is no evidence that any of the education providers have been involved in the fraud,” Mr Stuart says. “Our investigations are continuing but at this stage it appears that two agents in China have facilitated these fraudulent applications.”
Mr Stuart says that maintaining the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system is of paramount importance and this type of visa fraud is taken very seriously.