Here are some hints for making references work:

DO NOT have multiple levels of reference (A references B which references C.)

DO NOT reference models into character rigs and then reference character rigs into your shot.

DO NOT reference models into character rigs.

DO NOT reference character rigs into another file, texture them there, and reference that file into your shot.

Your best bet, if you REALLY want to use referencing, is to import the model, rig it, texture it, and save that file. Then, reference that into your shots.

The reason for the above: bugs.

-- Mark