As one who used to be employed under Great Wall China Adoption within the past year, I can honestly advise families that if you upset a worker at Great Wall or have tired them out with repetitive contacts, it's not that they did not receive your message, they just don't want to call you back and deal with listening to the same concerns they hear over and over again by the several families they speak to a day that call in requesting information, typically over the same general concerns. This particularly applies with the referral department. They work very hard in the numerous absences of the President, and no doubt are the one's who carry Great Walls name to the level it stands on. It's also very upsetting that Snow prefers not to deal with her clients while they are in process, only at beneficial reunions, and conferences where her image must be maintained. I understand that CCAI's president will hold bi-monthly conferences with prospective applicants, something I found to be a very personal touch for those who can't afford the money for a reunion or conference. But these are things that can only be witnessed working on the inside...unfortunately.
• Costs for Traveling Companions who are not adoptive parents
This is my most grievous and serious complaint. The cost GWCA charges for traveling companions is ludicrous and there is not much else I can say about it – EXCEPT – I did contact someone who recently traveled for an adoption and she used a different agency this time. Her mother accompanied her family and was charged $40.00. Yes, that’s right - $40.00. (my parents were charged $758.00 per person, “adult fee”). I heard this last night and actual cried before getting physically sick to my stomach. She had used GWCA the first time, but had a bad experience w/ the travel department in the summer of 2003 and so used a different agency this time.
• Hotel Costs
Our travel group this time did some research and realized that we were being charged well over the going rate for the hotels we would be staying at. When several people in our group asked GWCA about this discrepancy, we were told that GWCA clients pay the same hotel rates year-round…so if you travel in an off-season you pay more to subsidize future clients who will travel in a high-season. Now the most recent group to travel, leaving this weekend also asked why they were paying well over the hotel advertised prices and were given a completely different story. This time apparently the reason they will pay higher is that adoptive families are more demanding, messier and cause more permanent damage to rooms – and so the hotels charge adoptive families a higher rate. Again, I contacted SEVERAL friends who went with different agencies the second go around and again was shocked to hear that they paid a MUCH LOWER HOTEL FEE – traveling at the same time my family did. To sum up – GWCA can really come up with some inventive fiction on why they continuously over-charge their clients. I now have come to believe that I can not believe anything GWCA says to me.
• Train Costs
GWCA charged my group $75.00 a person for the train. Our guide asked us the night before the train, which train we wanted to take, as she was going that evening to drop another family off and to buy our tickets. Our guide failed to get us to the train station in time to make the train connection. We were required to buy new tickets for the next train. Imagine our groups surprise to find the tickets only cost around $34.00 US dollars. As I have previously said, Kelly, our guide purchased our tickets the night before – so there was no extra vendor GWCA needed to pay for this service. I can’t imagine where the extra money went – as surely our $758.00 guide fees covered our guide buying the tickets. I actually brought this up in my first formal complaint to GWCA, but it was not addressed. I really have little hope of anyone at GWCA taking my concerns seriously, but do hope this one issue is at least resolved for future train travelers. We left about an hour before our train left. This is simply not enough time. Please tell guides to allow at least 2 to 2 and ½ hours for families to leave from the White Swan to make it to the train station on time to make their train.
(I would also bet my last dollar the profit mark-up on our in-China flights were just as outrageous as the train was)
• Wiring Service Fee
Initially I was thrilled to see that GWCA was offering this service. During our first adoption I had always wondered why they did not. However, I then saw the price for this service, is it $125 or $150? Either way, it is ridiculous. I know Harrah’s only charges $50 and not only wires the $3,000 orphanage donation, but also wires all the babies expenses in China, leaving the family who opts for this service, to only worry about spending money and money for meals.
• Downsizing of guides
In our adoption trip of 2003 we had two really fabulous, hard working and kind guides. We were a group of 11 families. The trip could not have gone smoother. This trip we had one fabulous guide. She was kind and very hard working – BUT there was only one of her to go around and this time there were 12 families in our group (with one set of twins). The trip was just not as smooth and seamless as our first trip. Missing the train was the worst of this. Kelly did her best, but one great guide can not do what 2 great guides can do. I think it is a shame that GWCA has increased their prices, while decreasing their quality of service.
• 24 hour turn around on phone calls and emails
In my experience this only happens 50-70% of the time and I am NOT just talking about Referral week, when the Good Lord himself couldn’t get through. I have further had several emails NEVER answered or replied to. The one I specifically remember is one I wrote to Krista, asking that my family and I have no-smoking rooms w/ king sized beds. I never heard back from her. Perhaps this wasn’t her job, and this was something to be asked in China. If so, it would have courteous and professional of her to answer my email and tell me that. My request was not granted by the way.
Thank you so much for your encouraging words. The wait is grueling to say the least. We were logged in over 2 years ago and expect to wait no less than another 12 to 15 months for our referral.
This only fuels our desire for some kind of support from our agency.
I should have clarified in my earlier post that when we first signed on with GWCA we did in fact have an RO, a wonderful woman who I am friends with even to this day, but shortly after we began our paper chasing she resigned because of reasons mentioned in other posts. GWCA said they did not have enough prospective clients in this area to warrant hiring on another RO even though there were 5 families within an hour of us using them. This left us without any local support at all. I suspect that other families have complained about feeling overlooked to the agency because we too received an email from a staff member in 2007 that said they would give every family a call to check in, but we are still waiting for that call!
Although I do not agree with David’s tone, I do agree with some of his thoughts on the current client load at GWCA. I have no doubt that they have placed thousands of children in the past, but there intake of new clients have dropped drastically because of the wait and new restrictions. This I was told in a private email from a social worker who does home studies in the area of Texas where GWCA is located and is friends with staff members there. The fact that they were able to offer more personal service to their clients just a few years ago when they had so many more families to represent completely baffles me. As David said earlier, there are months when they receive no referrals at all. During these times when they would be contacting families about referrals, why can’t they pick up the phone and call some of their waiting families to check in. I cannot tell you what it would mean to me to have their office call just to say, “We understand your frustration with the wait, and we are here if you need us.”
Three and a half years is a long time to wait for anything, much less a child you are already in love with. The future of the Chinese adoption program is very uncertain right now. You would think as a China Only agency they would be working diligently to preserve their reputation among their current and future clients. Instead they have completely abandoned families like us who would only help bring them new clients in the future.
Sorry author2b……..I’m not fussing at you, just venting! Thank you again.
GWCA is The WORST adoption agency in the country. This agency shold by shut down by U.S. government. We were trick to work with this agency and for every step we felt that this agency just suck in our bloody money and didn't do anything for us. They don't even call you when your CIS paper work expired. They just send out email, a lot of them to confuse you. They change staffs very often and the staffs are not answering your call and NEVER called you back if you left message. They made all kinds of mistakes on your paperwork and didn't even try to help you to correct. At, travel phase, they charge you EXTRA BIT MONEY, such as small group fee for $500 per person. They knew that at this phase you can't change agency and they just try to rob you money. They charge extra money if you visit orphanage, they charge extra fee for the tips for the guide. They charge standard fees for travel. They also trick you to book the tickets and hotel through them since they charge more money from you and pay less in China since they have connections in China so they porket your money. For example, they charged us $105 for hotel per night at our province and we found out that they actually paid Chines hotel half price ($50) per night. So, they rob the half of your money for the hotel. Also, if you check out in the afternoon they wants you to pay half-day extra of the hotel fee and at China, the Chinese hotel will still want you to pay since GW never pay the hotel this half day fee. Actually, you could request the late check out at China and don't need to pay half-day's hotel fee. GW just try to get as much money as possible from you. So, don't even sign up with GW!!!. They are good agency out there I heard from friends. If you are unfortune as us that are in the middle of the process and close to travel phase and can't change agency just don't let them trick you. Here is the tip: (1) Don't let them buy your international ticket (They earn a lot from your air fair, the Delinght is part of this agency or have connection to GW and they share your money). You could buy your own international air fair throught airline or travel agency. (2) DON'T let them buy your intral China air fair, they charge you double that the Chinese airline charged. So, they could rob your half of your air fair money. You could buy Intra China ticket at citrip web site using your passport number and credit card, or you could ask friends in China to buy for you. (3) DON'T let them book the hotel for you. They earn half of your money. They only paid half to Chinese Hotels. You could book the hotel by yourself or ask friend in China to help.
(4) Don't believe what the local guide told you since they are connected with GW. Just to be careful.
The bottom line is don't use GW, they are dishonest, unethical, and they just want to suck as much money as they could from you. Please look at the reviews carefully. The good reviews were written by their staffs and don't trust them. The staffs didn't have any knowledge of adoption process and don't care what you care. At our travel phase, they change another travel advisor who didn't know anything about adoption and travel and made horrible mistakes in your plan. Even, she booked the ticket for us in the wrong city, wrong time, etc.
I wished I never sign up with GW but I was inexperience when I signed up 4 years ago and didn't read the reviews.
So, please be careful when you choose the agency read the reviews. Adoption is a strassful process and with GW it will put your life in nightmare. They are heartless!!! They just want your money and don't care anything about your process!!! There are more reviews in other site, please read them!!!
GW should be shut don't by U.S government and I don't understand why this agency still in business. The adoption process is a long process (4 years) for us and we could not change agency at the end of the process and that' why GW keep suck our money and still in business.
DON'T use GWCA!!!
I wanted to chime into the "discussion" to say that I had a fantastic experience with this agency. I never experienced the negative things that some other posters did. My case worker was always genuinely kind, always got back to me with lightning speed and was always professional. The extra expenses for the travel phase or worth it, one can just enjoy bonding with their child.
My husband and I are currently in the starting phase...Homestudy..paperchase ETC. So far, we absolutly love them!
1) We had a special situation in which Great wall contacted the CCAA on our behalf BEFORE sending us the contract to send back with the fee's. It doesn't seem money driven to us. It seem's like they were more concerned with us spending the money on the contract if it was a "flat" no.
2)We had submitted the application on accident twice. The next morning we called them about our account, and they already knew we had paid twice, and had it resolved before we even got involved!
3) Every question I have asked has been answered same day. I'm sure that won't always be the norm, but I really feel like they listen!
Again, we are just starting out on our adoption, but I am so so happy we chose Great wall so far!
I think that many of the "GREAT" reviews on this site are by Great Wall employees. So take them with a grain of salt. I have been told by a former area employee that they write a lot a fact reviews on sites like these.
Sad!
The review by one of the "anonymous" that says that the fees are reasonable and they did not charge more for the rooms is obviously an employee. Great Wall is well known for being expensive and for upcharging for travel accommodations. It is all over every yahoo group!
Again, this agency does not return emails and calls, but they find time to post fake reviews of these type of site.
I would rate them less than one star if it was possible. I am a current family with GREAT WALL and have found them to be a very bad agency. I must send emails at east 2X to ever get a response. They were extremely unhelpful when we were preparing our dossier. They would rarely return my calls. The overturn of employees is high. We have worked with about 6 different people. They are expensive and offer nothing for the extra money. They upcharge EVERYTHING. They are know as the agency that with nickel and dime you throughout the entire process. Just as one of the previous posters said, they make you pay them for all accomodations and they upcharge for rooms. Basicly they make more money off of you through overcharging on travel. This should not even be allowed and I am sure they are the only agency with the LACK of ETHICS to do this. I did not do me research when we choose them.
The main thing I wanted to talk about is how DISHONEST they are being to families that are thinking about adopting from China. Great Wall is telling families that the wait is 3 years and no explaination that this wait will increase. They are being very careful with information about wait times. I have spoken to a number of families that have recently signed with them and when I explained how slow things are, they are in complete SHOCK! I find this practice horrible and it shows that Great Wall ONLY CARES ABOUT THE MONEY!
Stay FAR away from Great Wall and do your research about China adoption before you sign with any agency. If you sign with any agency today you could wait from 3 to 7+ years. Please do your research.
Over a span of 11 years, 1996-2007, we had GW's help to facilitate 3 adoptions. They were awesome! We had very personalized services and great support every step of the way. All of our phone calls or emails were answered, promptly and when we called with worries we were listened to with great respect, sympathy, and courtesy. Travel was a seemless process where we didn't have to worry about anything but our bonding experience. We traveled with our older 2 girls the 3rd time around and they had a marvelous time touring with our very knowledgable, and patient, guides. They were there when we needed/wanted them to be and backed off when we wanted some space and time. Great Wall is an amazing agency. Kudos to the staff!!
Greatwall China Adoption Agency ROCKS! They are the best. Snow Wu is a really caring person about Chinese adoptions and takes it to heart. We have used them twice and both times were great experiences!
My wife and I adopted a daughter from the Waiting Child List through Great Wall last year. When we applied and were selected for the child, we wanted to get through the process as quickly as possible so that we could bring home our daughter. Great Wall assisted us every step of the way, giving us advice and information to move the process as quickly as possible. With the help of Great Wall, we moved through the entire process and travelled to bring home our daughter in 8 months!
Great Wall was available to us any time we needed them, and their fees were quite reasonable. I researched costs of travel and lodging online and found that Great Wall's travel rates were comparable with the best rates I could get on my own. Best of all, I had the piece of mind that Great Wall was available to assist us if there were any problems along the way. Our guides were outstanding and took very good care of us in China. All in all, it was an outstanding experience, and we will go back to them again if we choose to adopt another child. By the way--we highly recommend the Waiting Child program. There are so many great children who deserve the best homes!
We used Great Wall for our adoption and went to China at the end of September 2006. We were 100% pleased start to finish with this agency. The trip was fabulous, the guides outstanding and the whole process from pre-application through post-placement was exactly what we expected - excellent. In fact, we are now thinking about starting the process again for another daughter or son, and we will use Great Wall again without question or hesitation.
Great, Fabulous! That is the only way to sum up our experience. Travel Cost might be higher but they don't leave you hanging! Several families we met were left hanging by their agencies in China. And several were told at the last minute that their agencies were no longer going to arrange travel. The hotels were great and the guides unbelievable. I would definitely use this agency again. We took our 3 children and we were not charged an unreasonable fee for each extra child. And we took our inlaws. They were charged but they were also using the guide services and our guide did things for them that they did not do for the rest of the group so that my inlaws could go off and do things without the group so they really were on a vacation and not an adoption trip. We asked at our hotel in the province about the extra costs we paid and it turns out we did get more services from our hotel than the standard families would get. More housekeeping services which were a must when your kids make a mess eating chips or crackers or your child soils the linens on the bed because they are sick.
We in process with our 3rd adoption from GWCA. They have once again have been outstanding to work withand the resources are great. They are China only and know the system. When things go wrong they help out quickly. They return phone and email messages usually within 24 except when referrals have come in and then it is with 2 days. The costs have been exactly what they told us upfront. No hidden costs or asking for more money even when the Chinese adoption process has slowed down. The guides that they provide to put your dosssier together are easy to understand and use. You have the option of paying GWCA to put your paperwork together or you can do it yourself. Travel has been flawless. They provide you with a 24 hr number to call during the travel phase so that if something were to go wrong, you can contact them. They are outstanding.
We have been clients of GWCA since 2005 when we decided to use them for our adoption of a healthy baby girl from China. They were very friendly, answering our questions promptly whenever they arose during the application process. Our application was approved and we recieved a call to let us know that our contract was in the mail and to PLEASE return it with our first agency payment ASAP! That was the LAST call we received from their office to date.
We have been logged in with the China Centre of Adoption Affairs since the Spring of 2006 and have been waiting for our referral for over 29 months. We have yet to receive one phone call from a single person in GWCA's office since they called to ask for our first payment. I am aware that they have no control over the long wait, but they have offered no person to person support of any kind during the last 3 years we have been contracted with them.
I have to remain optamistic that they will step up to the plate when it comes time to travel because they have not proven themselves to be a "Trusted leader in Chinese adoption" as they like to say in their informational packets.
We brought our daughter home 1 1/2 years ago and can't say enough good about GWCA. They're handling of us stateside was awesome....but even more so during the travel phase. Everything was super organizied and we didn't ever have to worry...or be concerned about any detail. Meals were taken care of, buses provided (air conditioned) , our guide was fantastic and on time.....he handled all the paperwork and did an outstanding job. We never felt insecure about anything! All travel fees were paid ahead of time, so once we got there, all we had to be concerned about were certain adoption fees, tips and occasional meals...all communicated ahead of time. There were no suprises which was amazing because you're so consumed with the care of your new child. We loved it this way.I did my own dossier which isn't hard, so we didn't use any special services from GWCA...but for us, they come highly recommended! This was our 3rd adoption so we didn't need our hands held, but we never lacked info or communication from GWCA. I know the wait times are longer now...but GWCA really goes to bat for their clients. Use them!
So far we have been happy with Great Wall and that is why we are giving them 3 stars. Once the adoption is finalized we will come back and give an update. We are waiting for our referral, which probably will not happen for another 3 years.
We like them for the following reasons:
a. They answer our e-mails & phone calls w/in 2 days.
b. They have kept us informed as to the status of adoptions
c. Monthly Updates are sent to each family and also posted on their Family Only section of the web site.
d. Upfront w/fees
e. They deal w/China and China only. I was just paranoid that if we went w/another agency that works w/multiple countries then our paperwork would somehow be misplaced.
f. For the paperchase, we chose the Dragon Plan which involved us getting the documents together and forwarding it to them. They in turn had the documents certified & authenticated.
This agency sucks you in with their fancy little DVD, but it is clear that their efforts are entirely focused on marketing, to the detriment of their clientele. I feel sorry for the staff, to be honest, because the turnover is impossibly high, and that is such a huge red flag - what is so terrible about working here that in the past several years of my wait time I have had numerous different 'referral counsellors'? GWCA has no personal communication with clients, and you need to understand that upfront - they have a set of canned, prewritten emails, that they send out in rotation, unchanged, week after week, to their clients. Called their 'tip' emails, they offer helpful advice the first time around, but you get them over and over again, like clockwork, because they have no interest in actually communicating with their clients - I think there are about 20 of them, and they just email them out in order every week, and when they get to the end, they start back with email #1. They are helpfully numbered to reinforce with their clients just how little they care. Once your dossier goes to China, you never hear from them again on a personal level during the wait time, which means we have not heard a personal word from anyone at GWCA in YEARS. Just this rotation of canned spam emails explaining what an LID is, or recommending that we eat Chinese food to understand our child's culture (email #15). About the seventh time you receive a full round of these numbered emails, you start to understand that GWCA doesn't care about you, your family, or your adoption - they just want your check to clear and then to forget you exist.
Their communications in general are very deceptive. After a recent lobbying effort by JCSIS, adoptive parents, and agencies, the GWCA announcement of the news (again, a cut and paste spam email to all clients - no personal communication here!) told parents that it was a partnership between GWCA and JCSIS, as if somehow GWCA had led the way in I-600 reform. Its deceptive in the extreme, but very typical of GWCA to take credit for something that was led by JCSIS and a cause taken up by multiple agencies and hundreds of adoptive parents. Snow and GWCA do not have any special pull in China, with CCAA, or anywhere else - all China agencies have the same rules, the same requirements, and the same amount of pull, and it is deceptive that GWCA claims otherwise.
Most surprising to us after our dossier went to China is that we were told by GWCA that we would get an adoption credit (ie, payout) for every client we brought to them. I suspect this is why you hear families saying really positive things about GWCA - because they is a payout for them if they do so. We found out later the person who so enthusiastically recommended GWCA to us received a credit on her adoption costs for 'bringing us in'. She apologized to us for 'screwing us over' (her own words) that way. We still are not speaking. I wish there was a rating less than 1 star, because 1 star is WAY TOO HIGH.
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Reviews
Old Worker
As one who used to be employed under Great Wall China Adoption within the past year, I can honestly advise families that if you upset a worker at Great Wall or have tired them out with repetitive contacts, it's not that they did not receive your message, they just don't want to call you back and deal with listening to the same concerns they hear over and over again by the several families they speak to a day that call in requesting information, typically over the same general concerns. This particularly applies with the referral department. They work very hard in the numerous absences of the President, and no doubt are the one's who carry Great Walls name to the level it stands on. It's also very upsetting that Snow prefers not to deal with her clients while they are in process, only at beneficial reunions, and conferences where her image must be maintained. I understand that CCAI's president will hold bi-monthly conferences with prospective applicants, something I found to be a very personal touch for those who can't afford the money for a reunion or conference. But these are things that can only be witnessed working on the inside...unfortunately.
GREAT WALL overcharges, lies to, and takes advantage of clints
• Costs for Traveling Companions who are not adoptive parents
This is my most grievous and serious complaint. The cost GWCA charges for traveling companions is ludicrous and there is not much else I can say about it – EXCEPT – I did contact someone who recently traveled for an adoption and she used a different agency this time. Her mother accompanied her family and was charged $40.00. Yes, that’s right - $40.00. (my parents were charged $758.00 per person, “adult fee”). I heard this last night and actual cried before getting physically sick to my stomach. She had used GWCA the first time, but had a bad experience w/ the travel department in the summer of 2003 and so used a different agency this time.
• Hotel Costs
Our travel group this time did some research and realized that we were being charged well over the going rate for the hotels we would be staying at. When several people in our group asked GWCA about this discrepancy, we were told that GWCA clients pay the same hotel rates year-round…so if you travel in an off-season you pay more to subsidize future clients who will travel in a high-season. Now the most recent group to travel, leaving this weekend also asked why they were paying well over the hotel advertised prices and were given a completely different story. This time apparently the reason they will pay higher is that adoptive families are more demanding, messier and cause more permanent damage to rooms – and so the hotels charge adoptive families a higher rate. Again, I contacted SEVERAL friends who went with different agencies the second go around and again was shocked to hear that they paid a MUCH LOWER HOTEL FEE – traveling at the same time my family did. To sum up – GWCA can really come up with some inventive fiction on why they continuously over-charge their clients. I now have come to believe that I can not believe anything GWCA says to me.
• Train Costs
GWCA charged my group $75.00 a person for the train. Our guide asked us the night before the train, which train we wanted to take, as she was going that evening to drop another family off and to buy our tickets. Our guide failed to get us to the train station in time to make the train connection. We were required to buy new tickets for the next train. Imagine our groups surprise to find the tickets only cost around $34.00 US dollars. As I have previously said, Kelly, our guide purchased our tickets the night before – so there was no extra vendor GWCA needed to pay for this service. I can’t imagine where the extra money went – as surely our $758.00 guide fees covered our guide buying the tickets. I actually brought this up in my first formal complaint to GWCA, but it was not addressed. I really have little hope of anyone at GWCA taking my concerns seriously, but do hope this one issue is at least resolved for future train travelers. We left about an hour before our train left. This is simply not enough time. Please tell guides to allow at least 2 to 2 and ½ hours for families to leave from the White Swan to make it to the train station on time to make their train.
(I would also bet my last dollar the profit mark-up on our in-China flights were just as outrageous as the train was)
• Wiring Service Fee
Initially I was thrilled to see that GWCA was offering this service. During our first adoption I had always wondered why they did not. However, I then saw the price for this service, is it $125 or $150? Either way, it is ridiculous. I know Harrah’s only charges $50 and not only wires the $3,000 orphanage donation, but also wires all the babies expenses in China, leaving the family who opts for this service, to only worry about spending money and money for meals.
• Downsizing of guides
In our adoption trip of 2003 we had two really fabulous, hard working and kind guides. We were a group of 11 families. The trip could not have gone smoother. This trip we had one fabulous guide. She was kind and very hard working – BUT there was only one of her to go around and this time there were 12 families in our group (with one set of twins). The trip was just not as smooth and seamless as our first trip. Missing the train was the worst of this. Kelly did her best, but one great guide can not do what 2 great guides can do. I think it is a shame that GWCA has increased their prices, while decreasing their quality of service.
• 24 hour turn around on phone calls and emails
In my experience this only happens 50-70% of the time and I am NOT just talking about Referral week, when the Good Lord himself couldn’t get through. I have further had several emails NEVER answered or replied to. The one I specifically remember is one I wrote to Krista, asking that my family and I have no-smoking rooms w/ king sized beds. I never heard back from her. Perhaps this wasn’t her job, and this was something to be asked in China. If so, it would have courteous and professional of her to answer my email and tell me that. My request was not granted by the way.
Thank you author2b
Thank you so much for your encouraging words. The wait is grueling to say the least. We were logged in over 2 years ago and expect to wait no less than another 12 to 15 months for our referral.
This only fuels our desire for some kind of support from our agency.
I should have clarified in my earlier post that when we first signed on with GWCA we did in fact have an RO, a wonderful woman who I am friends with even to this day, but shortly after we began our paper chasing she resigned because of reasons mentioned in other posts. GWCA said they did not have enough prospective clients in this area to warrant hiring on another RO even though there were 5 families within an hour of us using them. This left us without any local support at all. I suspect that other families have complained about feeling overlooked to the agency because we too received an email from a staff member in 2007 that said they would give every family a call to check in, but we are still waiting for that call!
Although I do not agree with David’s tone, I do agree with some of his thoughts on the current client load at GWCA. I have no doubt that they have placed thousands of children in the past, but there intake of new clients have dropped drastically because of the wait and new restrictions. This I was told in a private email from a social worker who does home studies in the area of Texas where GWCA is located and is friends with staff members there. The fact that they were able to offer more personal service to their clients just a few years ago when they had so many more families to represent completely baffles me. As David said earlier, there are months when they receive no referrals at all. During these times when they would be contacting families about referrals, why can’t they pick up the phone and call some of their waiting families to check in. I cannot tell you what it would mean to me to have their office call just to say, “We understand your frustration with the wait, and we are here if you need us.”
Three and a half years is a long time to wait for anything, much less a child you are already in love with. The future of the Chinese adoption program is very uncertain right now. You would think as a China Only agency they would be working diligently to preserve their reputation among their current and future clients. Instead they have completely abandoned families like us who would only help bring them new clients in the future.
Sorry author2b……..I’m not fussing at you, just venting! Thank you again.
Chinamom
WORST ADOPTION AGENCY
GWCA is The WORST adoption agency in the country. This agency shold by shut down by U.S. government. We were trick to work with this agency and for every step we felt that this agency just suck in our bloody money and didn't do anything for us. They don't even call you when your CIS paper work expired. They just send out email, a lot of them to confuse you. They change staffs very often and the staffs are not answering your call and NEVER called you back if you left message. They made all kinds of mistakes on your paperwork and didn't even try to help you to correct. At, travel phase, they charge you EXTRA BIT MONEY, such as small group fee for $500 per person. They knew that at this phase you can't change agency and they just try to rob you money. They charge extra money if you visit orphanage, they charge extra fee for the tips for the guide. They charge standard fees for travel. They also trick you to book the tickets and hotel through them since they charge more money from you and pay less in China since they have connections in China so they porket your money. For example, they charged us $105 for hotel per night at our province and we found out that they actually paid Chines hotel half price ($50) per night. So, they rob the half of your money for the hotel. Also, if you check out in the afternoon they wants you to pay half-day extra of the hotel fee and at China, the Chinese hotel will still want you to pay since GW never pay the hotel this half day fee. Actually, you could request the late check out at China and don't need to pay half-day's hotel fee. GW just try to get as much money as possible from you. So, don't even sign up with GW!!!. They are good agency out there I heard from friends. If you are unfortune as us that are in the middle of the process and close to travel phase and can't change agency just don't let them trick you. Here is the tip: (1) Don't let them buy your international ticket (They earn a lot from your air fair, the Delinght is part of this agency or have connection to GW and they share your money). You could buy your own international air fair throught airline or travel agency. (2) DON'T let them buy your intral China air fair, they charge you double that the Chinese airline charged. So, they could rob your half of your air fair money. You could buy Intra China ticket at citrip web site using your passport number and credit card, or you could ask friends in China to buy for you. (3) DON'T let them book the hotel for you. They earn half of your money. They only paid half to Chinese Hotels. You could book the hotel by yourself or ask friend in China to help.
(4) Don't believe what the local guide told you since they are connected with GW. Just to be careful.
The bottom line is don't use GW, they are dishonest, unethical, and they just want to suck as much money as they could from you. Please look at the reviews carefully. The good reviews were written by their staffs and don't trust them. The staffs didn't have any knowledge of adoption process and don't care what you care. At our travel phase, they change another travel advisor who didn't know anything about adoption and travel and made horrible mistakes in your plan. Even, she booked the ticket for us in the wrong city, wrong time, etc.
I wished I never sign up with GW but I was inexperience when I signed up 4 years ago and didn't read the reviews.
So, please be careful when you choose the agency read the reviews. Adoption is a strassful process and with GW it will put your life in nightmare. They are heartless!!! They just want your money and don't care anything about your process!!! There are more reviews in other site, please read them!!!
GW should be shut don't by U.S government and I don't understand why this agency still in business. The adoption process is a long process (4 years) for us and we could not change agency at the end of the process and that' why GW keep suck our money and still in business.
DON'T use GWCA!!!
Great Wall was Great for Our Family!
I wanted to chime into the "discussion" to say that I had a fantastic experience with this agency. I never experienced the negative things that some other posters did. My case worker was always genuinely kind, always got back to me with lightning speed and was always professional. The extra expenses for the travel phase or worth it, one can just enjoy bonding with their child.
So far, I love them!
My husband and I are currently in the starting phase...Homestudy..paperchase ETC. So far, we absolutly love them!
1) We had a special situation in which Great wall contacted the CCAA on our behalf BEFORE sending us the contract to send back with the fee's. It doesn't seem money driven to us. It seem's like they were more concerned with us spending the money on the contract if it was a "flat" no.
2)We had submitted the application on accident twice. The next morning we called them about our account, and they already knew we had paid twice, and had it resolved before we even got involved!
3) Every question I have asked has been answered same day. I'm sure that won't always be the norm, but I really feel like they listen!
Again, we are just starting out on our adoption, but I am so so happy we chose Great wall so far!
Fake Reviews!
I think that many of the "GREAT" reviews on this site are by Great Wall employees. So take them with a grain of salt. I have been told by a former area employee that they write a lot a fact reviews on sites like these.
Sad!
The review by one of the "anonymous" that says that the fees are reasonable and they did not charge more for the rooms is obviously an employee. Great Wall is well known for being expensive and for upcharging for travel accommodations. It is all over every yahoo group!
Again, this agency does not return emails and calls, but they find time to post fake reviews of these type of site.
Very Dishonest!!!!
I would rate them less than one star if it was possible. I am a current family with GREAT WALL and have found them to be a very bad agency. I must send emails at east 2X to ever get a response. They were extremely unhelpful when we were preparing our dossier. They would rarely return my calls. The overturn of employees is high. We have worked with about 6 different people. They are expensive and offer nothing for the extra money. They upcharge EVERYTHING. They are know as the agency that with nickel and dime you throughout the entire process. Just as one of the previous posters said, they make you pay them for all accomodations and they upcharge for rooms. Basicly they make more money off of you through overcharging on travel. This should not even be allowed and I am sure they are the only agency with the LACK of ETHICS to do this. I did not do me research when we choose them.
The main thing I wanted to talk about is how DISHONEST they are being to families that are thinking about adopting from China. Great Wall is telling families that the wait is 3 years and no explaination that this wait will increase. They are being very careful with information about wait times. I have spoken to a number of families that have recently signed with them and when I explained how slow things are, they are in complete SHOCK! I find this practice horrible and it shows that Great Wall ONLY CARES ABOUT THE MONEY!
Stay FAR away from Great Wall and do your research about China adoption before you sign with any agency. If you sign with any agency today you could wait from 3 to 7+ years. Please do your research.
Great Wall China Adoption Agency
Over a span of 11 years, 1996-2007, we had GW's help to facilitate 3 adoptions. They were awesome! We had very personalized services and great support every step of the way. All of our phone calls or emails were answered, promptly and when we called with worries we were listened to with great respect, sympathy, and courtesy. Travel was a seemless process where we didn't have to worry about anything but our bonding experience. We traveled with our older 2 girls the 3rd time around and they had a marvelous time touring with our very knowledgable, and patient, guides. They were there when we needed/wanted them to be and backed off when we wanted some space and time. Great Wall is an amazing agency. Kudos to the staff!!
GWCA ROCKS!
Greatwall China Adoption Agency ROCKS! They are the best. Snow Wu is a really caring person about Chinese adoptions and takes it to heart. We have used them twice and both times were great experiences!
An Outstanding Experience
My wife and I adopted a daughter from the Waiting Child List through Great Wall last year. When we applied and were selected for the child, we wanted to get through the process as quickly as possible so that we could bring home our daughter. Great Wall assisted us every step of the way, giving us advice and information to move the process as quickly as possible. With the help of Great Wall, we moved through the entire process and travelled to bring home our daughter in 8 months!
Great Wall was available to us any time we needed them, and their fees were quite reasonable. I researched costs of travel and lodging online and found that Great Wall's travel rates were comparable with the best rates I could get on my own. Best of all, I had the piece of mind that Great Wall was available to assist us if there were any problems along the way. Our guides were outstanding and took very good care of us in China. All in all, it was an outstanding experience, and we will go back to them again if we choose to adopt another child. By the way--we highly recommend the Waiting Child program. There are so many great children who deserve the best homes!
We used Great Wall for our
We used Great Wall for our adoption and went to China at the end of September 2006. We were 100% pleased start to finish with this agency. The trip was fabulous, the guides outstanding and the whole process from pre-application through post-placement was exactly what we expected - excellent. In fact, we are now thinking about starting the process again for another daughter or son, and we will use Great Wall again without question or hesitation.
just finished third adoption
Great, Fabulous! That is the only way to sum up our experience. Travel Cost might be higher but they don't leave you hanging! Several families we met were left hanging by their agencies in China. And several were told at the last minute that their agencies were no longer going to arrange travel. The hotels were great and the guides unbelievable. I would definitely use this agency again. We took our 3 children and we were not charged an unreasonable fee for each extra child. And we took our inlaws. They were charged but they were also using the guide services and our guide did things for them that they did not do for the rest of the group so that my inlaws could go off and do things without the group so they really were on a vacation and not an adoption trip. We asked at our hotel in the province about the extra costs we paid and it turns out we did get more services from our hotel than the standard families would get. More housekeeping services which were a must when your kids make a mess eating chips or crackers or your child soils the linens on the bed because they are sick.
Great Service from GWCA
We in process with our 3rd adoption from GWCA. They have once again have been outstanding to work withand the resources are great. They are China only and know the system. When things go wrong they help out quickly. They return phone and email messages usually within 24 except when referrals have come in and then it is with 2 days. The costs have been exactly what they told us upfront. No hidden costs or asking for more money even when the Chinese adoption process has slowed down. The guides that they provide to put your dosssier together are easy to understand and use. You have the option of paying GWCA to put your paperwork together or you can do it yourself. Travel has been flawless. They provide you with a 24 hr number to call during the travel phase so that if something were to go wrong, you can contact them. They are outstanding.
adoption was flawless. Best agency. Anywhere else is mistake.
Used great wall twice for China. Using any other agency would be a big mistake.
Awful
Excessive fees, rude and unprofessional employees, flat out lies, threats....What's not to love?
Carollee
We have been clients of GWCA
We have been clients of GWCA since 2005 when we decided to use them for our adoption of a healthy baby girl from China. They were very friendly, answering our questions promptly whenever they arose during the application process. Our application was approved and we recieved a call to let us know that our contract was in the mail and to PLEASE return it with our first agency payment ASAP! That was the LAST call we received from their office to date.
We have been logged in with the China Centre of Adoption Affairs since the Spring of 2006 and have been waiting for our referral for over 29 months. We have yet to receive one phone call from a single person in GWCA's office since they called to ask for our first payment. I am aware that they have no control over the long wait, but they have offered no person to person support of any kind during the last 3 years we have been contracted with them.
I have to remain optamistic that they will step up to the plate when it comes time to travel because they have not proven themselves to be a "Trusted leader in Chinese adoption" as they like to say in their informational packets.
gwca-loved them
We brought our daughter home 1 1/2 years ago and can't say enough good about GWCA. They're handling of us stateside was awesome....but even more so during the travel phase. Everything was super organizied and we didn't ever have to worry...or be concerned about any detail. Meals were taken care of, buses provided (air conditioned) , our guide was fantastic and on time.....he handled all the paperwork and did an outstanding job. We never felt insecure about anything! All travel fees were paid ahead of time, so once we got there, all we had to be concerned about were certain adoption fees, tips and occasional meals...all communicated ahead of time. There were no suprises which was amazing because you're so consumed with the care of your new child. We loved it this way.I did my own dossier which isn't hard, so we didn't use any special services from GWCA...but for us, they come highly recommended! This was our 3rd adoption so we didn't need our hands held, but we never lacked info or communication from GWCA. I know the wait times are longer now...but GWCA really goes to bat for their clients. Use them!
So far we have been happy
So far we have been happy with Great Wall and that is why we are giving them 3 stars. Once the adoption is finalized we will come back and give an update. We are waiting for our referral, which probably will not happen for another 3 years.
We like them for the following reasons:
a. They answer our e-mails & phone calls w/in 2 days.
b. They have kept us informed as to the status of adoptions
c. Monthly Updates are sent to each family and also posted on their Family Only section of the web site.
d. Upfront w/fees
e. They deal w/China and China only. I was just paranoid that if we went w/another agency that works w/multiple countries then our paperwork would somehow be misplaced.
f. For the paperchase, we chose the Dragon Plan which involved us getting the documents together and forwarding it to them. They in turn had the documents certified & authenticated.
Find another agency
This agency sucks you in with their fancy little DVD, but it is clear that their efforts are entirely focused on marketing, to the detriment of their clientele. I feel sorry for the staff, to be honest, because the turnover is impossibly high, and that is such a huge red flag - what is so terrible about working here that in the past several years of my wait time I have had numerous different 'referral counsellors'? GWCA has no personal communication with clients, and you need to understand that upfront - they have a set of canned, prewritten emails, that they send out in rotation, unchanged, week after week, to their clients. Called their 'tip' emails, they offer helpful advice the first time around, but you get them over and over again, like clockwork, because they have no interest in actually communicating with their clients - I think there are about 20 of them, and they just email them out in order every week, and when they get to the end, they start back with email #1. They are helpfully numbered to reinforce with their clients just how little they care. Once your dossier goes to China, you never hear from them again on a personal level during the wait time, which means we have not heard a personal word from anyone at GWCA in YEARS. Just this rotation of canned spam emails explaining what an LID is, or recommending that we eat Chinese food to understand our child's culture (email #15). About the seventh time you receive a full round of these numbered emails, you start to understand that GWCA doesn't care about you, your family, or your adoption - they just want your check to clear and then to forget you exist.
Their communications in general are very deceptive. After a recent lobbying effort by JCSIS, adoptive parents, and agencies, the GWCA announcement of the news (again, a cut and paste spam email to all clients - no personal communication here!) told parents that it was a partnership between GWCA and JCSIS, as if somehow GWCA had led the way in I-600 reform. Its deceptive in the extreme, but very typical of GWCA to take credit for something that was led by JCSIS and a cause taken up by multiple agencies and hundreds of adoptive parents. Snow and GWCA do not have any special pull in China, with CCAA, or anywhere else - all China agencies have the same rules, the same requirements, and the same amount of pull, and it is deceptive that GWCA claims otherwise.
Most surprising to us after our dossier went to China is that we were told by GWCA that we would get an adoption credit (ie, payout) for every client we brought to them. I suspect this is why you hear families saying really positive things about GWCA - because they is a payout for them if they do so. We found out later the person who so enthusiastically recommended GWCA to us received a credit on her adoption costs for 'bringing us in'. She apologized to us for 'screwing us over' (her own words) that way. We still are not speaking. I wish there was a rating less than 1 star, because 1 star is WAY TOO HIGH.