Meet Doris our Mandarin speaking migration expert here at VSA

Doris Qixuan Yi has spent half her life in China and half in Australia and while she says she likes both countries, she’s happy to call Perth her home now.  Doris is the latest team member to join Visa Solutions Australia working in our Como office alongside Fizah Ismail our Registered Migration Agent.

Work and study for Doris

Doris provides administration support, answers telephone calls, looks at ongoing cases and ensures all the files on client cases are up to date.

“I love this role, it’s perfect for me as I am a people person and am really interested to discover why people want to migrate. I’m working full time but also studying for a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practise.  Long term I want to become a Registered Migration Agent so this role is giving me plenty of experience,” she explained

From the Yellow River in China to the WA coast

Born in Shandong Province on the eastern edge of the North China Plain on the Yellow River, Doris worked hard at school, but even at an early age found the level of school work overwhelming.

“I always wanted to go to Australia to study at university, and my parents knew this, but at high school in China I felt that my life revolved around homework, I certainly got a lot of it! As a family, we decided it might be better for me if I went to live with a relative in Perth in Australia and studied there.”

Doris had to complete a course at Melville Secondary School learning English as a second language before enrolling at Rossmoyne High School to study for her ATAR Certificate.

“It was hard leaving my parents behind as I am an only child.  They come out and visit me, as and when they can.”

Applying for permanent residency sparks interest in migration career

At 18, she took up a place to study Petroleum Engineering the University of New South Wales and while Doris achieved good grades, she wasn’t convinced it was the career for her.

“Once I graduated, I wanted to move on from my student visa to permanent residency. Petroleum Engineer was on the Skilled Occupation List.  While I was applying for permanent residency and investigating visas, I realised that I might like a future career in the migration industry, so I enrolled on my current Graduation Certificate,” explained Doris.

“It’s hard juggling a full-time job with study, but I can see an end in sight, as I’ll qualify in July.  I really enjoy corporate migration, as these cases are more challenging and complex.  I’m fluent in Mandarin and this is useful when dealing with Chinese clients.  We are currently seeing a lot of Chinese migrate to Australia on student visas, and I can really relate to what these people are going through.”

Doris has seen a lot of Australia, but wants to see more, she’s explored Sydney and Hamilton Island and been to Samui Island and celebrated Chinese New Year in the Maldives. She is an accomplished pianist and can play at an advanced level.  Outside of work, Doris enjoys capturing every moment of life by taking lots of photographs and can also be found on the other side of the lens as a model to her photographer friends.

“Life here in Australia runs at a slower pace than in China.  People work long hours in the large Chinese cities and there is less of a work-life balance.  Graduates often rely on parents for financial support and so I can see why Australia appeals to so many Chinese because of the lifestyle. If they come here to study, it’s a pathway to becoming a permanent resident, that’s exactly what I did, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”