When he lost his job in Ireland in 2012, Fai’s situation became very difficult. His visa had already expired, so he was unable to find another employer. Fai wanted to return to China but worried about what he would do after. “It took me a long time to decide to return. I thought, ‘If I go back and cannot find a job, how can I support myself?’”Fai applied for IOM’s return and reintegration assistance to help him prepare for his new life in China.

After he arrived, he was surprised by the changes that had taken place in the ten years he had been gone. “There were a lot of changes in my hometown. For example, small houses turned to high rise buildings.” Fai also found it difficult to reintegrate socially. “Sometimes, people think I must be well-off because I worked abroad.”

He applied for the IOM Ireland reintegration grant so that he could open a health food shop. “My family members recommended this for a good business opportunity. For people like me, who went abroad, it is difficult because we don’t know much about business rules in China.” Because his aunt and uncle owned a similar business, they gave him advice about running the store.

An IOM Ireland staff member spoke with Fai in 2013. His business is slowly growing but not yet supporting him. “The business income is able to cover the rent and running cost, but there is not much profit after that. I feel that I am settled in about 80% but not completely. I will be happy when I am successful.”

Fai wants to remain in China to build his business. “I definitely would not emigrate again. I have been abroad for a long time. I would not like to go back again.”