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. Mr Stuart said that under the Immigration Act , 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. Nearly one in four, or 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. 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. New Zealand Herald. Subscribe to Premium. Sign In Register. On the go and no time to finish that story right now?
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