References of objects in Java EE. Difference for remote and local interfaces?

As far as I know, Java is only call-by-reference. If an entity has to go through a remote interface, can it still have a reference? Now the entity is basically in another container, how can it still have the reference of the object? In other words: Is it possible that entites that 'go through' remote interfaces are not just references, but a copy of the object (call-by-value)?

Sorry if that is a silly idea, but the whole call-by-reference (or pass by refrence?) concept is confusing me in Java EE.

EDIT: In other words: Are objects from session beans ALWAYS passed as a reference?