Over 60 Models Arrested in Beijing Police Visa Sting

The fashion press is abuzz at the moment with news that a visa sting under the guise of a casting call for foreign models in Beijing has led to the detention of more than 60 foreign models without proper working visas.

The casting call was held at Chinese agency M3 in Jianwai SOHO, according to The Business Model, which said that as many as 60 models were in custody while four were jailed (although it did not specify the difference between "in custody" and "jailed").

The models face fines and possible deportation, in line with treatment of other visa policy violators. The reports did not indicate if the detained models were male, female, or both. M3 representatives could not be reached for comment.

Models are required to work on entertainment visas, which are more difficult to obtain than tourist visas. A similar crackdown appears to be going on in Guangzhou.

Visa issues came to the fore at the end of 2013, when a minor traffic accident resulted in the deportation of an unlicensed motorbike rider and his father, both of whom were working illegally in China. We'll repeat what we wrote then: it's a good idea for all of you to brush up on your adherence to Chinese law, here are some tips to ensure you're nice and legal when riding on the roads and working in the city:

1. If you don't have a driver's license, stop driving and get one
2. If your vehicle is unregistered, stop driving and get one
3. If you are working illegally, go on strike until your employer gives you the proper paperwork

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