In 2012, Xing Fu found himself in a vulnerable situation in Ireland. He had come to Dublin 2001 to find work, but with no visa, his options were limited. He managed to support himself for many years but eventually became homeless. “I had been living in Ireland for more than ten years, but I had no family there and no job. I felt it was time for me to return.”

Despite wanting to return, Xing Fu was still anxious about his decision. “I was a bit worried about the financial situation in China.” He was glad to hear that he could apply for a reintegration grant in China, and decided that he would use it to learn to drive. “Driving is an essential skill. I am still learning. It is not easy to pass the driving test in China.”

Fortunately, once he had his license, Xing Fu was able to find work immediately. “I began working for my cousin in home decoration. Driving definitely helps my work. I can bring other workers and equipment and machines to the working site.”

After seven years in Ireland, the best part about returning to China for Mei Xing was reuniting with her young son. He had been living with her parents while she studied and looked for work, unable to visit her family.

Mei Xing had moved to Ireland in 2005 to learn English, hoping that it would help her career. In 2012, however, she was unable to pay her school fees and her student visa expired. “I had to return to look after my child, and I had no work for a long time in Ireland. Not having a visa makes it very hard to find a job.” With no support in Ireland, she applied for IOM assistance to make it possible for her return to China.

Mei Xing then moved in with her parents and her son, but she worried about her job prospects. She applied to IOM for a reintegration grant that would pay for her to get her driving licence. “I could not think of another activity. Learning driving was the obvious option. Driving is an essential skill.”

Jiao Long came to Ireland to study English in 2002, but he could not afford the fees. He began working instead, taking temporary jobs that did not require a visa. In 2012, his father suddenly became ill, and Jiao Long decided to return to China to care for them.

After ten years away, Jiao Long was nervous about returning to China. He missed home, but he did not have time to think of a plan for his employment. “My return decision was in a rush, due to my father’s illness. It did not allow me to think too far.”

Once Jiao Long returned, he was glad to be able to care for his father. He also had a hard time readapting. “The living pace in China is very fast. It is hard to adjust to. I have not become used to the interaction style and business style in China.”

Jiao Long applied for the IOM Ireland reintegration grant. “I invested in my brother-in-law’s decoration shop,” he explained. “We sell paint, wall paper, and other things like that. I was thinking about doing some business when I returned, but I realized it is not easy. I was thinking about opening a restaurant, but it requires a lot of investment. I did not have the money.”

About why she left China in 2010, Jia Li explained, “I came to Ireland because I was curious about other countries. I wanted to see what it is like, and I was looking for work opportunities.” Although her visa had expired after six months, Jia Li found her own apartment and took any jobs that she was offered.

In 2012, she faced a long period of unemployment.  Jia Li could not find work that paid enough for her to afford to live in her apartment any longer. She then decided to apply for assistance from IOM to return to her family and son in China.

Jia Li missed Ireland and felt that it took her several months to settle into her new life.  “I did not fit in at first, but I got used to it. The working pace in China is really different from Ireland. It is fast.” In order to find a job, she applied for the IOM Ireland reintegration grant to receive her driver’s license. Because she saw driving as an essential skill, she was confident that it would help her find work.

In 2003, Huan Yue and Piao moved their family to Ireland to give themselves and their children the opportunity to learn English. Huan Yue was especially interested in Ireland because, “I wanted to study abroad and explore Western society.” An education agency in China organized their travel visas and enrolled them in school.

After two years, the couple was unable to renew their student visas. Concerned for their children’s stability, Huan Yue and Piao sent them back to China to live with their grandparents. For nine years they were unable to visit, and by 2012 they wanted to return to their family. Because they could not afford to travel on their own, Huan Yue and Piao returned to China with IOM assistance.

Once they were back, Huan Yue was surprised at how much was different. “The place has changed a lot. I did not recognize our neighbourhood.” She applied for the reintegration grant so that she and Piao could learn to drive.