What can happen at the border . . .

[Randy W]

in the Global Times - it's not clear that prostitution WAS the issue

 

Chinese model claims she was denied entry to US on suspicion of prostitution

 

The woman, surnamed Zhong, a 22-year-old model from Shanghai, said she was first stopped by authorities in New York's John F. Kennedy Airport on April 7.

Zhong said Department of Homeland Security staff took her aside after asking about her profession. Border officials became more suspicious after scrolling through Zhong's phone chat history, which revealed plans for a photo shoot after her arrival and discussions about price.

Zhong maintained she was not in the country for work. "I was doing my friend a favor so I didn't consider it a job," said Zhong.

Her wardrobe of revealing outfits did not help her case. Officials turned Zhong away at the gate and put her on a flight back to China.

US officials were not contacted for comment, and it was not reported what kind of visa Zhong was traveling on.

 

 

[dnoblett]

Similar has happened when an unmarried visitor tries entry with things that looks like planning on marrying someone, items like birth cert, and a wedding gown can be red-flags. The thought being marriage and then adjusting status from a visit visa or visa waiver program.

 

This happens no matter what country visitors are coming from or even going to.

 

Have seen Canada blocking entry if they suspect the visitor plans on working there, my uncle worked for Kodak Rochester and once a co-worker was sent over to do some work at IMAX in Hamilton ON, the border agent asked the person what their reason for entering Canada, the worker was honest about doing a job for Kodak for IMAX and they were turned back, the Canadian asked them what they were going to do about it and my uncle's co-worker simply said will get breakfast in Niagara Falls NY and call the office, really not his problem.

 

I once was turned back at the border over a messed up load in a truck, I had a 3 stop load where the shipper loaded a Canada stop between two USA stops, Canadian customs did not like that.

[dnoblett]

Another example of craziness at the border,

 

My cousin who is Canadian and lives in Kingston often travels into the states with her boyfriend who is Scottish and living in Canada on a permanent residence card (Canadian Green-Card), my cousin being Canadian has no problems with the border agent, however her boyfriend always gets brought in for questioning and it takes about an hour, this pisses my cousin off every time. She and I have asked him why he does not simply apply for Canadian citizenship, he always says he is too lazy to study for the test.

[danb]

Interesting that they went thru her chat records on her phone at the border. I heard that they could. Danb

[dnoblett]

Interesting that they went thru her chat records on her phone at the border. I heard that they could. Danb

 

Yep, have been hearing about border agents sometimes demanding to go through smartphone content if they suspect something, probably the clothing set them off and then they demanded to go through the phone. They border agents don't have the time to demand to search every phone coming through, something has to set their suspicions off before starting to go through everything.

 

But yes, certain rights don't exist at the border, they can turn you away for almost any reason, a person entering as an immigrant or visitor is a guest of the USA and do not have the right to enter.

[Randy W]

Interesting that they went thru her chat records on her phone at the border. I heard that they could. Danb

 

 

Yes - that's what caught my eye here

[Greg.D.]

In Denver, there are many Chinese massage businesses. Year in, year out, they stay in business, and some of them present a face to the public of a traditional massage parlor.

I went into backpage.com and the personals section to find one I drive past every day. Sure enough, there it was with links to the girls with whom you can make an appointment. Now, probably the pic's are just grabbed off the internet, but they are definitely selling services for foreign females.

In addition, many more free lancers in the personals .... definitely from China, and itinerant, moving from city to city, call for an appointment (if you are an "upscale" gentleman).

Remember the Western Union story from less than a year ago about getting busted for not properly tracking money going from here to China? The bulk of the transactions were for non-documented Chinese sending money back to China to pay the enablers who got them smuggled into the U.S. - mainly from Mexico, I think.

So, I am leaning towards the officer at the POE having guessed right with regards to the woman in the story.

I want to plug a new book I am reading - couldn't find a sticky for this: "The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom: America and China 1776 to the Present". By John Pomfret, 2016.

There is a long history of women traveling to the U.S. From China to make some money, according to substantiated accounts.

Great book, too.

Edited April 27, 2017 by Randy W
added Amazon link (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

Greg, I am familiar with the backpage thing, my wife owns a spa, we use the backpage with a flashy ad to drive traffic to her webpage and to the spa. But nope, no extra service implied or offered, strictly a legitimate spa, sometimes she has to kick clients out for even asking.

 

But yes I often see in the news where an Asia. spa gets shut down for iligimate business.

[Randy W]

In Denver, there are many Chinese massage businesses. Year in, year out, they stay in business, and some of them present a face to the public of a traditional massage parlor.

 

I went into backpage.com and the personals section to find one I drive past every day. Sure enough, there it was with links to the girls with whom you can make an appointment. Now, probably the pic's are just grabbed off the internet, but they are definitely selling services for foreign females.

 

In addition, many more free lancers in the personals .... definitely from China, and itinerant, moving from city to city, call for an appointment (if you are an "upscale" gentleman).

 

Remember the Western Union story from less than a year ago about getting busted for not properly tracking money going from here to China? The bulk of the transactions were for non-documented Chinese sending money back to China to pay the enablers who got them smuggled into the U.S. - mainly from Mexico, I think.

 

So, I am leaning towards the officer at the POE having guessed right with regards to the woman in the story.

 

I want to plug a new book I am reading - couldn't find a sticky for this: "The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom: America and China 1776 to the Present". By John Pomfret, 2016.

 

There is a long history of women traveling to the U.S. From China to make some money, according to substantiated accounts.

 

Great book, too.

 

 

My own guess is that she, "a 22-year-old model from Shanghai", was there to pose for the pictures - still illegal under the terms of her visa. I doubt that she'd be CLAIMING "border officials believed her to be a sex worker" if she was one

[amberjack1234]

In this area with 120,000 Marines on Camp Lejeune and most of them single of course there are no legitimate massage parlors. That has, over the last 50 years or so, always made me suspicious of massage parlors.

[tsap seui]

I always liked, and highly respected, massage parlors. Especially the ones in America and Vietnam.

[amberjack1234]

To be honest about the subject I've never been to one but have friends that have.

 

Edit: There use to be a strip next to Camp Geiger. part of Camp Lejeune, that was about two miles long with old shacks for bars that had been in business since WWII that was well know for having massage parlors in the back of each one. I was standing outside of the compound at my fire station one evening and saw a column of smoke coming up from them. Unmistakable a structure fire. One could see them from the station. We were not allowed off the base unless we were requested by Jacksonville or Onslow County. I called our dispatcher, he transferred the call to the County and they where there in about 10 minutes. A massage girl in the back with no fire escape died in that fire. I often regret not responding on my own and perhaps saved her life but it would have been the end of my career if not my job for sure. There have been many a millionaire made owning those old shacks. They are all gone now with the widening of Highway 17 and all the clove leaf intersections to make it happen.

 

If there was any way that I had known that she was in there I certainly would have responded job be damned.

Edited April 28, 2017 by amberjack1234 (see edit history)