Boardwalk Henna Tattoo Stands Shut Down

Boardwalk Henna Tattoo Stands Shut Down
Boardwalk

OCEAN CITY — Continuing a recent pattern of confusion over what is and what is not acceptable on the Boardwalk, Ocean City Police last weekend with the help of allied federal agencies shut down eight henna tattoo stands operating on the resort’s famous promenade.

In the early evening hours last Saturday, Ocean City Police, with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), shut down eight henna tattoo stands operating on the Boardwalk. Through the investigation, it was determined that individuals operating the henna tattoo stands were in the U.S. on active F-1 student visas.

Officers and federal investigators gave a total of 10 students a warning for selling goods and/or services on the Boardwalk in violation of the terms of their F-1 visas. Investigators explained to the students operating a henna tattoo stand did not comply with the parameters of their F-1 visa and the students agreed to shut down their stands. As a result, eight temporary, portable henna tattoo stands operating at different locations around the Boardwalk were shut down.

The F-1 student visa is for students attending a full-timed degree or academic program at a school, college or university approved by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The F-1 student visa is valid for as long as it takes to finish the student’s course of study.

Most international students in the U.S. hold an F-1 visa, which is the U.S. non-immigrant student visa. F-1 students are allowed to work in the U.S., but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions  issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Generally, all employment is contingent on remaining within the terms and restrictions of the F-1 visa. There are several categories of employment during the term of your stay as an F-1 student in the United States. On-campus employment is the most freely available, and then there are four categories of off-campus employment: optional practical training (OPT), curricular practical training (CPT), severe economic hardship, and approved international organizations.

The shutdown of the eight henna tattoo stands last Saturday continues a spree of similar activity on the Boardwalk in the last week or so. Last week, the town of Ocean City received a directive from the U.S. Department of State warning students living in the resort on a J-1 student visa were not allowed to be dressing in various cartoon costumes and collecting tips, which is a violation of the terms of their particular visas.