Coming Home to China Booklet

Home , Chengxiang District, Fengze District, Fuqing, Lianjiang County, Minhou County, Ningde

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Coming Home Booklet- Fujian

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Introduction

China’s economy has continued to grow rapidly over the past decade; it has become an important developing country in the world. With the continuous appreciation of RMB and burgeoning business and job opportunities, more and more overseas Chinese students choose to return home. This is the best testimony of the country’s growing strength. The Prime Minister of the UK has also visited China repeatedly in the last two years and established a “partners for growth” relationship between the two countries.

Many Chinese people in the UK still feel lonely and homesick; they endure the hardship in another country for a better life of their family at home. After some years, the yearning for home might grow stronger and stronger. If you are considering coming back to China, this booklet may give you some helpful advices and a glance of China’s development since your last time there. It also gives you guidance from application materials all through to your journey back home, provides answers to questions you might have, and shares some successful cases of people establishing business after returning. You can find information on China’s household registration, medical provision, vocational training, business opportunities as well as lists of religious venues and non-profit organizations in the booklet which will help you learn the current conditions at home.

China has many provinces and regions; this guidance only applies to Fujian Province.

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Table of Contents

PART ONE In the UK ...... 5 Preparing to Return Home ...... 5 Departure ...... 6 On the Way to Airport ...... 7 Heathrow Express ...... 7 Underground ...... 7 Bus and Coach ...... 7 Heathrow Airport ...... 7 PART TWO In China ...... 8 Arrival ...... 8 Airport in Beijing ...... 8 Airports in Shanghai ...... 9 Back Home- Fujian ...... 10 Household Registration ...... 10 Application and Renewal of Identification Card ...... 10 Returned Children ...... 11 Household Registration ...... 11 Vaccination ...... 12 School Enrolment ...... 12 Public Medical Insurance ...... 12 Rural Residents ...... 13 Urban Residents ...... 13 Looking For Economic Prosperity ...... 15 Small Entrepreneurship Loan for Rural Youth in Fujian Province ...... 15 Youth Business China Foundation, Fujian Branch ...... 16 Start Your Business Training organised by Local Government ...... 17 Vocational Training ...... 18 Fujian Farmers Skills Training University ...... 18 The National Association of Vocational Education of China, Fujian Branch ...... 18 Looking for Employment ...... 19 Fujian Provincial Jobs Service Centre ...... 19

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NGO - Quanzhou New Home Social Service Centre ...... 20 Religious Belief and Church ...... 21 PART THREE Returnee Stories ...... 24 Ms Lin’s Story ...... 24 Mr Chen’s Story ...... 24 PART FOUR Questions and Answers ...... 25

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PART ONE In the UK

Preparing to Return Home

As the Chinese poem goes, “A lonely stranger on a strange land, I miss my family all the more on every festival day”. You might have parted with your family for a long time and feel lonely on every Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. Your parents’ hair might be greying from lack of care and your child has grown up, making you feel guilty.

After many years vagrancy, you understand that however caring the friends and countrymen are in the UK, they can’t replace your family. Money can’t buy time. There are always opportunities to earn wealth, but the happy times shared with family will not return.

If you decide to come home, you will need to do a series of preparation before the journey. First of all, call your family and tell them your decision. Let them share your anticipation and joy for reunion. Certainly, the emergency travel documents are necessary identification for you to come home. There are three ways to obtain such documents:

 Submit the materials for your voluntary return, including documents for your family in the UK (your spouse and children born in the UK) to the officer handling your case, who will send the materials to the Chinese Embassy in London as soon as possible to arrange for the emergency travel documents. The officer will give you an identity verification form; please fill in your genuine personal information. If needed, you may ask the officer for a Chinese translator to help you fill in the form. Besides your travel documents, the officer will also help you obtain a free air ticket to China.

 AVR Programmes – This is a programme independently run by Refugee Action and provides assistance to voluntary returnees from document application all the way through to business consultation back in China, including offering confidential advice, free air ticket and small loan. The programme has three types: 1) AVRIM – For persons aged 18 or above without a legal identification in the UK. 2) AVRFC – For asylum seekers, rejected asylum seekers, persons with expired short-term visa or without legal identification in the UK who are under 18 or with children under 18. 3) VARRP – For asylum seekers, rejected asylum seekers or persons with expired visa who are aged 18 or above.

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Please dial 0808 800 0007 for details of the AVR Programmes, its application requirement and conditions.

 Contact Chinese Embassy/Consulate Yourself – You may also go to the Chinese Embassy London or Consulates elsewhere in the UK if you wish to apply for returning documents directly. The Embassy/Consulate staff will help you through the document application procedure.

Consular Section, Chinese Embassy London

31 Portland Place, London W1B 1QD Phone: 020-72998427 (2 p.m. – 4 p.m.) Fax: 020-74369178

Office hour: 9 a.m. – 12 a.m., Monday – Friday (close on holidays) Website:

Consular Section, Chinese Consulate-General Manchester

49 Denison Road, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5RX Phone: 0161- 2248672 Fax: 0161-2572672

Consular Section, Chinese Consulate-General Edinburgh

55 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 5QJ Phone: 0131-3373220 (3:30pm-4:30pm) Fax: 0131-3371790

Departure

When received your travel documents, you may prepare to come home. The UK government will help you to book your air ticket and tell you the time of the flight in advance. You may start to pack your luggage and prepare yourself for the moment of family reunion. You could also call your family and friends and tell them your flight information so that they know when and where to meet you. It is a good idea to have their contact numbers and address with you so you can contact them conveniently. It will also be helpful to prepare some small charges or buy a mobile SIM card so you can make phone calls at airport in China on arrival.

If you have been on long-term medication while in the UK, you need to take a detailed consultation with your doctor before you leave so the doctor could prescribe enough medicine for you during your trip and sometime after you return to China. Ask the doctor to write down your medical conditions and prescriptions in detail so that you can continue the treatment back home. Make sure you bring the doctor’s note and medicine with you all the time during your trip.

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On the Way to Airport

In most cases you will take a flight from the Heathrow Airport in London to Beijing or Shanghai. You might have to travel alone or with your spouse and children. Don't worry. First pack up you and your family members’ luggage, make sure you have all your emergency travel documents, and reconfirm your flight information. Usually you should arrive at the Heathrow Airport at least 3 hours in advance to go through the boarding procedures. If you are released from the detention centre, the staff member will send you to the airport safely. If you leave from your home, you can choose these public transports:

 Heathrow Express You can take the metro to Paddington Train Express Station, from where you can take the convenient Heathrow Express, which departs every 15 minutes and takes only 15 minutes to the Airport. The Heathrow Express operates from 5:10 a.m. to 23:25 every day at the Paddington Station. A standard ticket is ￡20 per person; you can either book the ticket online in advance, or buy the ticket at the station or on the train.

https://www.heathrowexpress.com/?tid=WINTHEX

 Underground If you don’t have much luggage, metro is also a good way. The final station of the Piccadilly Line is Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport, the station before the last is Terminal 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Airport. The metro runs very frequently, and ticket price varies depending on where you get on. You can log on the Chinese website for more information about the metro:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/languages/chinese/

 Bus and Coach The National Express provides convenient transportation from many cities in the UK to the Heathrow Airport. It is an ideal choice if you live outside London. Find its routes and schedules at: http://www.heathrowairport.com/

Heathrow Airport The Heathrow Airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. There are altogether 5 terminals in Heathrow. Flights to China are in Terminal 3, 4 or 5. Most flights to Asian countries are in Terminal 3, but sometimes the arrangement may change. So make sure to check your ticket and learn about your flight before you go.

You can also find real-time update of your flight on: www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk/flight-departures.html

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PART TWO In China

Arrival

After about 15 hours in the air, your flight will land in the Beijing Capital International Airport or airport in Shanghai. After many years’ hard work far away from home, you finally come back to your own land. You must feel very comfortable seeing your home country and hearing familiar languages. You don’t need to feel helpless anymore as the people around you are all brothers and sisters.

Being away for so long, you might not be used to the environment in China immediately. Here is a brief description of the facilities in the airports in Beijing and Shanghai.

Airport in Beijing

Beijing Capital International Airport has three terminals. Usually international flights will land in Terminal 3.

If you do not need to take a domestic flight, you may prepare to leave the airport. The departure procedure at Terminal 3 is as follows:

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1. Flight arrives;

2. Quarantine;

3. Border control;

4. Luggage claim;

5. Customs check;

6. Leave the airport.

If you need to take a connecting domestic flight from the airport, the procedure is as follows:

1. Quarantine and border control;

2. Luggage claim;

3. Customs check;

4. Transfer processing;

5. Security check;

6. Wait for boarding.

For more information, you may check out the website of the Beijing Capital International Airport: www.bcia.com.cn

Airports in Shanghai There are two airports in Shanghai: Pudong and Hongqiao. Besides different layouts, the procedure of arrival and transfer are similar in both of them. Usually flights from London Heathrow will land in Pudong Airport.

After getting off the plane, you will need to go through two checking points: security and border control. If you produce an emergency document, the border control officer will ask routine questions, e.g. how long you have stayed outside China and your connection with China. No need to be nervous; just stay calm and answer the questions honestly and you may leave the airport after the procedure.

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Back Home- Fujian

Coming back to the hometown that you often dreamed about, you will find your loved ones are there waiting for you. This must a long-waited moment for you. Reunion with family gives you the long lost warmth. Enjoy all the happiness; taste the delicious food of your hometown with your family, hold your parents’ hands and talk with them or accompany your child to school. But after sometime you might still face the problem of making a living in the future. The following information might shed some light on it.

Household Registration

You might have been away from home for as long as ten years, or might be alone when you left but have married with children now. In order for your children to receive the nine-year compulsory education in China, it is necessary to update your household registration and register for your children.

Application and Renewal of Identification Card

If you are still using the first generation Chinese ID card, you need to replace it with the new generation ID card at the police station of your household registration location. Since 2004, the

Public Security organizations across China have been issuing second generation ID cards for all Chinese nationals. To replace the ID card, you should bring with you the household registration book, fill in the Application Form for Replacing for the Second Generation ID Card (provided by the Public Security organization) and the Application Registration Form for Temporary Resident ID Card, and follow the procedure below:

Applicant should bring the above mentioned documents to apply for ID card replacement at the police station of their household registration location in person, and can apply for temporary resident ID card at the same time.

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One month after the replacement application, the applicant can go to the police station to obtain the new ID card with their household registration book and ID card replacement receipt. If the applicant holds an old generation ID card, it should be submitted while obtaining the new card. Note: A receipt will be given to you when your application is made.

ID card replacement can usually be done in 45 days.

Since Oct. 3rd 2013, Fujian Province has started to collect fingerprints while issuing resident ID card. Those who apply for ID card for the first time will have their fingerprints recorded at the same time. Those who already have ID cards will have fingerprints recorded while replacing them with new ones. Fingerprint recording is free of charge.

Returned Children

Household Registration

If your children were born in the UK and have not been registered in China, it is necessary to complete their household registration at the local police office, which also serves as the household registration body. Documents you need to bring are:

1． Both parents’ household registration books 2． Birth certificate (must be notarized by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in the UK)

Please pay attention if you have the following situations:

 Registration for children born of unmarried parents – If your children were born in the UK out of wedlock, you need to pay social compensation fee at the local family planning office first, and take their receipt to the police office before you could do the household registration for your children.

 More than one child – If you give birth to more than one child while in the UK, according to China’s one-child policy, you will also need to report to the family-planning office and pay social compensation fee for all children except the first one, then obtain the receipt and take it to the policy office to complete household registration for all your children.

 Household registration for children while the parents do not have the registration or still use the first generation ID cards – Chinese nationals leaving the country in the 1990s needed to revoke their household registration. So when coming back to the country after over 10 years, you might find your household registration has been removed, or that you are still using the first generation ID card which need to be replaced. In these two situations you can’t process your children’s registration until you complete your own registration.

Note: The rate of social compensation takes the local urban residents’ average annual per capita disposable income or the rural residents’ average annual per capita net income as

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reference standard, and takes into consideration the actual income of the parents and the specific situation of their having more children than Chinese laws and regulations allow, to decide the actual amount. The specific social compensation standard is set by each province, autonomous region or municipality under direct administration of the central government.

If there are any policy updates, please consult the competent government department for details.

Vaccination

Every child born in the UK has a little red book from the hospital which records their physical conditions and vaccination history. In China all children also have a similar little book of their own. If you come home with your children, make sure you bring the little red book. All community hospitals in China provide regular vaccination to children for free. Therefore before you return, it will be helpful to ask the doctor in the UK to note down your children’s physical conditions and vaccination stage in the red book, which will help the doctor in China to quickly and correctly understand your kids’ vaccination record. In addition, some vaccines not required to take in the UK are needed in China; if you and your children will live in China for long term, we suggest that you take these vaccines. But always feel free to consult the local doctors.

School Enrolment You might also be concerned about your children’s education and don’t know which grade they should go to. In the UK, children start to receive preschool education at the age of 3 or 4, similar to the kindergarten in China. The primary schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland last for 6 years, same as China, but children in the UK go to school at 5 (4 in Wales), attends Key Stage 1 exam at 7, Key Stage 2 exam at 11 then finish primary schooling. While in China, children usually go to school at 6 – 7, and receive 6 years’ compulsory primary school education before going to the middle school.

The primary school stage in China is not very clear-cut; most schools consist of preschool classes and primary school classes. Whereas in the UK primary schooling consists of three stages according to the characteristics of children’s growth: stage one is Nursery School, in which children are enrolled at 3 or 4; stage two is Infant School, equal to grade 1 – 3 in Chinese primary school; stage three, the Junior School is similar to grade 3 – 6 in China.

Public Medical Insurance

China already has a relatively complete medical insurance system which covers both urban and rural areas. If you have illness from the hard work in the UK, it is important to apply for the cooperative medical insurance to ensure future treatment of your illness. After joining the

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public medical insurance plan, the government will cover part of your medical expense. When the medical insurance procedure is completed, you can bring your medical record and prescriptions from UK doctors to see the doctor in local hospitals. Please consult the hospital on using the medical insurance.

Rural Residents

The new rural cooperative medical scheme is organized, led and supported by Chinese government and voluntarily joined by rural residents. It is a mutually supporting medical system for rural residents on the principle of mainly funded by the government, supplemented by individuals and social pooling for serious disease.

All permanent residents of rural household registration can join in the cooperative medical scheme in their region on family basis. Those rural residents working elsewhere can only join in the scheme at the location of their household registration. Those rural residents already joined urban employee medical insurance scheme or urban resident medical insurance scheme through their employers cannot join in the rural scheme anymore.

The scheme is household-based; the insurance for 2013 is RMB 60 per person, and should be paid between Sep. 15 and Dec. 15 2012. You can pay your insurance at the rural cooperative medical insurance scheme point of your village, and then all villages will converge their insurance payment to the township office, then township to the district Financial Bureau and the insurance payment will finally be placed in the medical insurance fund dedicated account.

The insurance for in-hospital patients usually covers treatment fee, medicine fee, checking fee, operation fee and in-hospital caring fee. The specific coverage will be decided according to the medicine usage, medical treatment and medical service/facility used (i.e. within the coverage scope of the medical insurance scheme) referring to the Basic Medical Insurance for Urban Employees. Expense beyond insurance scope cannot be subsidized.

Urban Residents Service Registration for urban residents’ basic medical insurance Service type Administrative permission 1. Fuzhou Administrative General Notice No. [2007]249 – Notice by Fuzhou People’s Government on issuing Trial Measures for Fuzhou Urban Legal basis of the Residents’ Basic Medical Insurance service 2. Fuzhou Labour Authority Medical Insurance Notice No. [2007]621 – Opinions on Handling Some Issues of Urban Residents Joining in Basic Medical Insurance Scheme 1. Application receiving: Community centre or school submits application materials to the medical insurance centre for their residents/students together. The responsible officer reviews the completeness of the materials on the spot. If materials are not complete, a missing notice will Handling be issued; if materials are complete, a receipt will be produced and the procedure application is accepted for preliminary review. 2. Preliminary review: The application materials will be preliminarily reviewed within one working day upon receipt, and forwarded to formal review when they meet the requirement. 3. Formal review: The application will be reviewed within one working day

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upon receipt, and forwarded for recording after verification. 4. Info. recording and ID card producing: Upon receipt of approved application, applicants’ information will be recorded to the system; social security cards will be produced. 5. Service completion: Community centre or school member brings their organization’s reference letter to obtain the social security cards from the medical insurance centre. Senior citizens with household registration in any of the four districts of Fuzhou, unemployed persons at employable age, children at preschool age, students (to apply by the school collectively) and residents of Hong Kong, Requirements Macau and Taiwan who live in Fuzhou long-term (over a year) and are unemployed are all eligible for the urban resident basic medical insurance scheme of Fuzhou. 1. The community centre should submit Collective Registration Form for Fuzhou Urban Residents Joining in Medical Insurance Scheme, New Premium Details of Basic Medical Insurance Scheme for Fuzhou Urban Residents, and Medical Insurance Premium Payment Registration Form for Fuzhou Urban Residents filled in by the insurant; the school should submit Collective Registration Form for Fuzhou Students Joining in Medical Insurance Scheme, Form of Details of Fuzhou Students Joining in Medical Insurance Scheme, Form of Details of Fuzhou Students Renewing Medical Insurance, and Application Form for Fuzhou Students Joining in Medical Insurance Scheme filled in by the student insurant; all the above documents must bear an official seal.

2. Applicants should submit: (1) Both the original and a copy of their ID cards and household registration books (the copy should have the first page and the personal info. page); (2) Seriously disabled persons should also submit the original and a copy of their Disabled Person Certificate of the People’s Republic of China; (3) Persons entitled to the minimum living Required guarantee should submit the original and a copy of their Receipt Card for Materials Fujian Province Minimum Living Guarantee (not including rural residents living on the Minimum Living Guarantee).

3. Application for infants under one year old should be made by the parent, who should bring a registration form with the seal of the community resident committee, the materials in Clause 2 and a UnionPay card (for insurance payment) to the medical insurance office to apply: (1) Infants joining in the medical insurance scheme within 3 months after birth are entitled to the insurance from the day of birth; (2) Infants joining in the scheme after 3 months since birth are entitled to the insurance from the day of application acceptance. The medical insurance period of each year ends on December 31 of the paying year.

4. Residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan having lived in Fuzhou for over a year are entitled to apply for the urban resident medical insurance; a certificate from the community centre proving their time of stay should be obtained. Charging standards Premium standards: The urban resident basic medical insurance consists of and basis insurant’s payment and government subsidy. The government subsidizes

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RMB260 for each insurant and each adult insurant pays RMB150; minor insurants pay RMB40; the insurant’s personal share by the seriously disable persons, persons entitled to the minimum living guarantee, senior residents and minors in low-income families is totally subsidized by the government. Execute according to the Fuzhou Administrative General Document No. [2007]249 – Notice by Fuzhou People’s Government on Issuing “Trial Handling time Measures for Fuzhou Urban Residents Joining in the Basic Medical Insurance Scheme” Responsible body Individual Insurance Administration Section, Fuzhou Medical Insurance (department) Administrative Centre Service Hall, Medical Insurance Centre, 1/F Labour Building, No. 128 Gutian Address Road, Fuzhou Office hour Monday to Friday Phone number 968906 Phone number 0591-87842560 for complain

Looking For Economic Prosperity One of the reasons you hesitate to come back might be lack of confidence in your job prospect in China. You might not know what you can do after return and feel that except the experience working in restaurants in the UK, there is nothing else you are able to. But don’t forget, many people at home have never been to another country and you have a broader horizon than them. There could be things that you notice are already popularized in the UK but have great market potential to be exploited in China, or you might want to get a loan to start a small business, or you already have some good idea and some savings but are not clear how to start a business. The following information might be helpful to you.

Small Entrepreneurship Loan for Rural Youth in Fujian Province

This is a scheme jointly supported by the Youth League Committee of each municipality/county/ district, Branch of Banking Regulation Bureau, Fujian Provincial Branch of Agricultural Bank of China, Fujian Provincial Branch of Postal Savings Bank of China and Fujian Rural Credit Union to help rural young people start their business. Scheme details are:

Loan Features Loaning Requirement

This loan can be applied by rural young people at or under 40 with complete civil Loan Recipients conduct capability who are honest, without bad credit record, wishing to start business and with certain business resources.

On principle, the amount of small credit loan is controlled within RMB30, 000 and Loan Amount usually not exceeding RMB50, 000; mortgage, pledge and warranty (including joint loan) amounts can be raised appropriately depending on the actual risk status of the lender.

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Loan period Loan period is usually within 3 years and not exceeding a maximum of 5 years; the specific repayment time can be agreed by the loaner and lender.

According to an operational model of “guaranteeing the principal with small Loan interest profit”, the loan interest rate can be favourably adjusted to some extent on the rate basis of the corresponding loan interest rate announced by the People’s Bank of China.

Within the line of credit, loan is issued on the principle of “one credit granting, Loan issuing loan when needed, circular usage” in a trial to realize the rural youth entrepreneurship small loan issuing through a dedicated credit card.

1. Loan on credit. The loan is made upon the borrower’s credit. 2. Loan on guarantee. The loan made upon a third party’s commitment that he or she will be liable for guarantee responsibility or related responsibility should Loan types the borrower fail to repay the loan. 3. Loan on mortgage. The loan made with the borrower’s or a third party’s property as guaranty. Agricultural production facilities, forest rights and waters/mudflat usage rights can all be used as guaranty.

Fujian Branch of Agricultural Bank of China and its sub-branches Loaning banks Postal Savings Bank of China and its branches Rural Credit Union in each country (municipality/district) and its branches Information collection – project recommendation – project review – loan Loan process application – loan issuance – loan tracking – loan repayment – loan benefit assessment

Besides loans, an expert service group is also established for this Fujian Small Entrepreneurship Loan for Rural Youth to provide business development training for entrepreneurial young people. The training aims to provide a platform for rural young people to study, share experience and practice business establishment, help them exchange information and experience of business start-ups, promote mutual loan and joint loan, provide sector linking, information and technical guidance as well as experience teaching so as to help young people in rural areas strengthen their capability in obtaining financial services and using financial tools.

Youth Business China Foundation, Fujian Branch

Youth Business China Foundation Fujian Branch is an executive body of Youth Business China; it is responsible for the overall operation of the China youth business project in Fujian. The YBC is an international cooperation project aiming to help young Chinese set up their business, initiated by the Central Youth League and the All-China Youth Federation. It learns the model of the Youth Business International project, makes use of its advanced experience and international recourses to explore a

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business aid model suitable for China’s conditions and cultural characteristics to help young Chinese start successful business. The features of this project are:

1. Every young person will have a “one to one” entrepreneurial tutor who will give guidance on their business development for three years and help them enter the local industrial and business network. 2. A business starting fund will be provided to the young person. The project’s dedicated youth business fund provides interest-free loan to young entrepreneurs meeting the requirements; the loan requires no pledge guarantee of any kind but needs to be repaid in instalments. 3. The industry and business circle participates and leads in the project. Many entrepreneurs and business executives with strong sense of social responsibility are promoting and managing the project as volunteers. Some of them fund the project while others volunteer to be the entrepreneurial tutors.

If you meet the following conditions you will have the opportunity to receive support from the project:

1. Fujian locals aged between 18 and 35 2. Must be unemployed (no part-time job either) 3. With a business project under preparation (project has started for less than one year or not started) 4. Project starting fund must not exceed RMB 300,000 (project fund range: RMB0 – 300,000) 5. No requirement on education level 6. No sector restriction

Besides project application, the Youth Business China Foundation Fujian Branch will also hold many business seminars and entrepreneurial tutor workshops. You may log on www.ybcfj.com or ring 0591-87276581 for the project application procedure, forms and other details, or you can email to [email protected] to obtain more information from project staff members.

Start Your Business Training Organised by Local Government

Chinese government has released a series of favourable policies and measures to encourage and support business establishment, including tax rebate, small loans, free training, venue support and so on. In 2001, through the agreement between the then Chinese Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the International Labour Organization and the UK Department for International Development, the Start Your Business training program by the ILO was formally introduced into China and a group of SYB teachers and trainers were trained, which has helped some Chinese people to set up small & medium sized businesses.

The SYB training is usually a small-class workshop of 25-30 people, delivered in its special U-shape classroom. The training lasts for 5 – 7 days and is given by SYB entrepreneurial tutors trained and certified by both the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security. In addition, there are also entrepreneur service centre and entrepreneur association established by successful entrepreneurs, practicing lawyers and other business tutors who hold clinics to provide guidance and help to the students. The Centre and Association also provide a venue and opportunity for business starters to learn and share experience.

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Please consult the local human resources authority for application details.

Vocational Training

If you do not have a suitable business project yet, or have difficulty in initial investment, or if you want to learn a new skill, you may consider doing so at a local vocational training school. With the rising living standard in China, the demand for skilled workers has become greater and greater, and skilled workers’ salary has also been rising steadily. Although the earning is not huge, it is enough to support a family and without the risk of business loss. The following vocational training institutions might give you some ideas.

Fujian Farmers Skills Training University

Fujian Farmers Skills Training University is an education institution focusing on training and education for rural residents. To improve the knowledge level and work skills of rural residents and increase their income, the University sets up five departments such as the Crop & Planting Department, Animal Breeding Department, Economics & Management Department and Mechanics & Electronics Department with 26 majors. Students include farmers, middle-school students in rural areas and educated young people returning to the countryside. One focus of such midlevel vocational training institution is to support students from poor families in rural areas. The University adopts a flexible teaching model that joints different departments and opens classes in villages. Programmes include short-term training, one-year systematic training, tutored self-learning for college diploma, three-year midlevel vocational education and more.

You may choose an interested major to study. Fujian Farmers Skills Training University has 9 district/municipal campuses and 78 county (city/district) campuses in Fujian. Besides programmes in agricultural technologies, the University also provides courses in 8 majors such as electronics, household appliances, tourism, product processing and ceramics, which are much welcomed by both rural residents and businesses.

For more details about the University, please log on www.fjsnhd.org.

The National Association of Vocational Education of China, Fujian Branch

The National Association of Vocational Education of China is a nationwide public education organization consists of people from the education, economic and technology sectors. The Association’s Fujian Branch was founded in 1984 and functions as the organization’s local centre. It focuses on the survey and research into vocational education, promotes the development of Fujian and the vocational education, implements the Project Warmth and serves as an education agency. Until the end of 2011, the Fujian Branch of the National Association of Vocational Education has 15 county-level sub-branches and 8 county-level preparation groups (most are vocational colleges, civil schools and training institutions.)

Launched in 1995, Project Warmth has been a key project of the National Association of Vocational Education Fujian Branch. Through providing vocational education, training, guidance and recruitment service, the project aims to improve the work skills and vocational capabilities of the surplus labour force and communities with difficulties in urban and rural areas, help them to find

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stable employment and encourage various social groups to actively support and participate in the cause. The sub-branches of the Association, together with other social groups, provide non- profitable training for the laid-off workers in urban area, job transfer training and work skills training for rural labour force, and other charitable activities to support education and teaching as well as vocational training for special communities. The core activity of Project Warmth is the “Training Plan for One Million Rural Population in 100 Counties”.

If you are interested in Project Warmth or would like to attend some of their public training, please log on www.fjzjs.org.cn or ring 0591-87801342 for more information.

Looking for Employment

Some organizations in Fujian Province can help you in finding a suitable job. We suggest that you first seek employment information from the government’s human resources department, then seek help from social organizations if you can’t find satisfactory job. The following is an introduction of both ways.

Fujian Provincial Job Service Centre

Founded in 1994, Fujian Provincial Job Service Centre is a public organization directly administered by the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Fujian. With an experienced and professional team in vocational guidance, employment security issue agency and vocational skills training and certification, the Centre provides services in job seeking registration, recruitment agency, job guidance, job introduction, vocational training, skill certification, recommendation of rural labour groups, agency for various social insurances, archive and management of personal records, employment contract authentication and employment security policy consultancy. Each year the Job Service Centre organizes more than 10 “Job Fairs of the West Side of the Strait” as commissioned by the Fujian Human Resources & Social Security Department. You may learn the latest job market information and seek employment advice on their fairs.

Fujian Provincial Job Service Centre has branches in different parts of the province. You may go to your local one to seek employment service and information.

Organization Address Phone

No. 128 Yangqiao Street, Gulou District, Fujian Provincial Job Service Centre 87559643 Fuzhou

Job Service Centre of Jin’an District, No. 11, Dongpu Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou 87570797 Fuzhou

Job Service Centre of Putian Licheng Street, Chengxiang District, Putian 82684111

Job Service Centre of Hanjiang No. 7 Qufu Road, Hanjiang District, Putian 83396116 District, Putian

Employment Service Company of No. 1 Zhonghua Street, Zhangpu County, 83220272

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Zhangpu County, Zhangzhou Zhangzhou

Fuzhou Job Service Centre No. 128 Gutian Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou 83343773

Employment Service Company of Fuqing, Fuzhou 85217041 Fuqing, Fuzhou

Job Service Office, Changle, Fuzhou Wuhang Township, Changle 28922559

Jin’an Job Market of Gulou District, No. 133 Dongpu Road, Jin’an, Gulou District, 87138036 Fuzhou Fuzhou

Chengmen Sub-centre, Job Service No. 33 Paixia, Cangshan District, Fuzhou 83532743 Centre of Cangshan District, Fuzhou

Job Service Centre of Cangshan No. 115 Sangao Road, Cangshan District, 83532743 District, Fuzhou Fuzhou

Employment Administrative Division Labour Building, South Gate, Xiapu County, 28883933 of Xiapu County, Ningde Ningde

Public Job Service Office of Fu’an, No. 13 Xinyang Street, Fu’an, Ningde 86565516 Ningde

No. 191 Changqing Road, Kaiyuan District, Xiamen Job Service Centre 85205566 Xiamen

Quanzhou Job Service Centre No. 91 South Xinhua Road, Quanzhou 82389178

Employment Exchange Centre of No. 30 South Xindajie Road, Jinjiang County, 85698477 Jinjiang, Quangzhou Quanzhou

Longyan Employment Service South Xi’an Road, Xinluo District, Longyan 82220499 Company

No. 1 Zhonghua Street, Zhangpu County, Job Service Office of Zhangpu County 83220272 Zhangzhou

NGO- Quanzhou New Home Social Service Centre

Founded in 2012, Quanzhou New Home Social Service Centre (QZC) is a non-commercial social organization approved and supervised by the Civil Administration Bureau. QZC is committed to provide professional social worker service for individuals, families and organizations in need to promote social harmony.

In October 2012, QZC formally became the China partner of the Assisted Voluntary Return project, providing development services for voluntary returnees to China such as aid fund application, social support and reintegration after return. In February 2013, QZC formally launched the UK Assisted Voluntary Return project. By the end of the year, the Centre has provided services to over 200 voluntary returnees. Contact of QZC:

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Address: Apartment J, 23/F Agricultural Bank Building, Quanxiu Road, Fengze District, Quanzhou.

Phone number: Social worker hotline 1 0086 595—2293 6885 Social worker hotline 2 0086 595—2272 6885 Director’s office 0086 595—2224 1222 Financial office 0086 0595 2800 4000 Duty mobile 0086 18259506106

Email: [email protected] Official website：http://qz.nha.org.cn/

Religious Belief and Church

After living in another country for a long time, you might more or less be influenced by a religious belief. Perhaps you did not have a religious belief before but now have, and you hope to be able to continue worship in your hometown. Nowadays China is very open to religious affairs; every Chinese individual enjoys the freedom to believe in any religion. You may find a church to do worship in your city in Fujian. The following information might be helpful.

Name of church Address

Huaxiang Christian Church, Fuzhou No. 7 Huaxiang, North Ba’yiqi Road, Fuzhou

New Street Church, Xiamen No. 29 Taiguang Street, Siming District, Xiamen

Zhushu Christian Church, Xiamen No. 129 Kaihe Road, Xiamen

Yiban Christian Church, Quangang Yiban Village, Tuling Township, Quangang District, District, Quanzhou Quanzhou

Dongpuyu Christian Church Dongpuyu Village, Xindu Township, Licheng District, Putian

Xiapu Christian Church, Ningde Wuqi Village, Changchun Township, Xiapu County, Ningde

Puqian Christian Church, Fuzhou No. 732 Zhong Road, Taijiang District, Fuzhou

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Cangxia Christian Church, Fuzhou No. 1 Yixia Bridge, Cangxiazhou, Taijiang District, Fuzhou

Guanxiang Christian Church, Fuzhou No. 9 Guanxiang Alley, Gulou District, Fuzhou

Chengguan Christian Church, Xiapu No. 7 Daotanggong, Songcheng Street, Xiapu County, County Ningde

Xiecuo Christian Church, Pingtan Xiecuo Village, Pingtan County

Baisha Township Christian Church, No. 1 Tangyuan, Tangyuan Village, Minghou County, Minhou County Fuzhou

Guanwu Christian Church, Lianjiang Guanwu Village, Xiaocheng Township, Lianjiang County

Xiapu Christian Church, Fuqing Xiapu Village, Xincuo Township, Fuqing

Zhengdian Road, Lufeng Avenue, Jinfeng Township, Jinfeng Christian Church, Changle Changle

Dongputou Christian Church, North side, Building North 14, West Xinhua Business Zhangzhou Street, Zhangzhou

Qianlin Christian Church, Xiuyu Wenli Village, Daitou Township, Xiuyu District, Putian District, Putian

Shuisheng Christian Church, Xiapu Shuisheng Village, Xiapu County, Ningde County

Jingcuo Christian Church, Xiuyu Donglin Village, Daitou Township, Xiuyu District, Putian District, Putian

Mawei Church, Fuzhou No. 94 Maweihou Street, Fuzhou

Dongjiao Christian Church, Xiuyu Dongjiao Township, Xiuyu District, Putian District

Meifeng Christian Church, Putian No. 181 North Shengli Street, Putian

Quannan Church, Fujian No. 372 Mid Zhongshan Road, Quanzhou

Puzhao Church, Jinjiang No. 85 Chongde Road, Jinjiang

Xida Church, Fuqing No. 10 Xida Road, Fuqing

Chengguan Church, Fuqing No. 35 Houpu Street, Rongcheng Township, Fuqing

Tian’an Church, Fuzhou No. 15 Tian’anli, Cangshan District, Fuzhou

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Besides Christian churches, there are also Catholic churches in various parts of Fujian; the most famous one is the Saint Dominic's Cathedral. Here is the list of some Catholic churches in Fuzhou area:

Name of Church Address

Saint Dominic's Cathedral No. 54 Xinmin Street, Cangshan District, Fuzhou

Ximen Catholic Church No. 164 Guxi Road, Fuzhou

Cangxiazhou Catholic Church No. 8 Jinyi Alley, Cangxiazhou, Fuzhou

Hongshanqiao Catholic Church Hongshan Bridge, Cangshan District, Fuzhou

Qingzhou Catholic Church Qingzhou Village, Shangjie Township, Minhou County

Nanyu Catholic Church Nanyu Township, Minhou County

Xiekuang Catholic Church Dongzhuang, Xiekuang Village, Fuqing

Longtian Catholic Church Longtian, Fuqing

Gaoshan Catholic Church Gaoshan, Fuqing

Pingtan Catholic Church Chengguan, Pingtan County

Changle Catholic Church No. 2 Sanfeng Alley, Changle County

Guhuai Catholic Church Guhuai Township, Changle

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PART THREE Returnee Stories

When you are still recalling your lonely struggle in the UK, there are actually many other fellow countrymen who had similar experience as yours and have been hesitating between staying and coming back. Reading their stories might shed some light on your consideration.

Ms Lin’s story

Ms Lin was from Pingtan. After graduating from Fuqing Campus of Fujian Normal University, she became a staff member of the University and got married. In 2001, not long after their wedding, Ms Lin’s husband sponsored her to pay 100,000 Yuan to an agent who instructed her to obtain a student visa to Ireland. She chose Ireland because she heard others say this country is nice.

In the first three years in Ireland, Ms Lin had to attend four and a half days classes in language school every week, while after class she had two jobs, one in a supermarket opened by Irish people, another in a Chinese restaurant. The first year was particularly hard, she often fell asleep in class after working.

Later she gradually got used to it, and was able to post 15,000 Yuan home from her salary every month. In 2008, Europe’s economy was in recession; Ms Lin came back to China to reunite with her husband. At that time, very few people like her – married, no children, and have properly settled in another country – would still choose to come back. Most of them want to stay overseas; some divorce their spouses at home, others try to move their families to the new country. Chinese women in their 20s like Ms Lin can easily find a Chinese husband overseas. But she decided to come home for her husband.

During her years in Ireland, Ms Lin and her husband had made plan and invested all her savings in the real estate. They believed the profit from their property can ensure decent life for them in the future. As they wish, the real estate industry has developed rapidly in the last few years, giving them ideal return. While in Europe, with the economic recession, the workers’ salary was not satisfactory.

Mr Chen’s story

Mr Chen was born in Fuqing in 1982. After graduating from college in 2004, he planned to go overseas. Under the arrangement by an agent, he successfully obtained the UK visa to study in a language school. In his first year there, he missed the hometown, family and his girlfriend so much. While going to class, he had to also earn enough money to pay the tuition and room rental. Some countrymen suggested that he gave up the legal identity so that he didn’t need to go to school, but he didn’t give up and insisted in working and studying.

Later, Mr Chen’s girl friend came to join him in the UK so they could take care of each other. After 7 years’ study and hard work, they came back to China in 2012 and happily got married.

Mr Guo’s story

Mr Guo had been doing labour work in various places in China in the 1990s. The unsatisfactory income and some countrymen’s good life in the UK pushed him to migrate illegally to the UK. At the

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beginning, he worked in a Chinese restaurant in the UK; after familiarised himself with the restaurant’s operation process, the high profit of selling pirate CDs lured Guo into the business which made him a fortune. Sufficient money and lonely life in a faraway country led him to become addicted to gambling which cost most of his savings. He had to go back to the restaurant and once again began many years’ hard work before accumulating some savings. It took him 15 years before he came home. After relearning about the business environment in China and with his brother’s help, he invested his savings from the UK in tunnel construction project and made considerable returns. Now Mr Guo is very happy with his life and never regrets coming back from the UK.

PART FOUR Questions and Answers

Try read the following if you have not found answers to your questions in the previous parts.

1. I am living a hard life in the UK. What should I do?

 Go to the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in the UK to seek help; their staff will provide assistance to you;  Dial the AVR help hotline to seek help. The organization is independent from government and may help you to plan the future according to your personal circumstance;  Seek help from other legal social or religious organisations in your area.

2. How long after I return to China can I apply for passport again? When can I travel abroad again?

 If you are deported back to China, as a punishment, you cannot reapply for passport within 6 months to 3 years since deportation;  If you return voluntarily, there is no such restriction at all;  When you have obtained your passport, if you are travelling with legitimate reason and have prepared correct documents, you are free to apply for visa from all diplomatic missions to China. Presently all countries are simplifying their visa application procedures to facilitate genuine travellers to obtain visa.

3. My family is in the UK. If I were deported back to China, how do I reunite with my family?

 Your family members can apply to return to China; or  You may apply to rejoin your family in the UK if your family members have legal identity in the UK, you submit genuine documents and have sufficient reasons to go to the UK.

4. What if my family in China do not accept me when I come back?

It is understandable that after a long in another country, you will have various concerns when considering coming home. According to a survey with 60 returnees from the UK, 76.67% of them do not regret their decision to come back. On the question of the key factor of their decision to return, 50% say because their families want them to come back; 30% say because the development opportunities are better in China. Over half of them feel happy coming home. In addition, while the biggest concern before they came back was the disapproval from families and neighbours, none of them list this among the difficulties they experienced after coming back. This shows that families

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and countrymen all welcome you to come home. If you do come across problems getting along with your family, you may seek help from local organizations such as the Quanzhou New Home Social Service Centre (their contact info. is on page 18).

5. I’m afraid that I can’t find a job back in China, or can’t earn as much as I do in the UK.

In our questionnaire survey with the returnees, 61.67% answer that they are able to find a job or do business in their hometown. Local governments and organizations will provide relevant vocational skills training or business training. If you pursue a leisure life after returning, it won’t be difficult for you to find a job after receiving vocational training; if you still want to establish a business, some social organizations will provide a series of assistance. With the support from your friends and families and your own hard work, your dream can also come true.