Great Wall China Adoption

Here's a fun story:\r \r On the surface, GWC appears to be a healthy nonprofit adoption agency. 98% of revenue spent on services, solid balance sheet, etc. Until you dig a little deeper and see the real picture.\r \r Their CEO, Snow Wu, takes home $150k plus benefits. Her salary alone is 615% above the average salary of their employees. She works incredibly hard to squeeze as many families into her overworked staff as possible, usually leaving each case worker with a load of 800-900 families (not even exaggerating). This leads to adoption wait times of roughly 6+ years on average. All the while profits get funneled up.\r \r I have a close family friend who tried adopting with GWC (emphasis on ""tried""). Things eventually fell through after multiple instances of missing files, miss communication, and complete lack of transparency from the agency. That starts to make a little more sense when you realize their poor staffers can barely keep up with Ms. Snow's profit-driven demands.\r \r Since 2011 the organization has actually CUT staff dramatically, all the while upper management salaries have been steadily growing. Keep in mind this isn't some magical insider information, this is all clearly evident from looking at their Form 990 in detail.\r \r I'm still unsure how this agency has managed to hold on to their nonprofit status. It's basically a giant revenue funnel for one woman's bank account. more

RUN, Don' walk, RUN!!!!I have used Great Wall twice. The second adoption we knew things had changed. It was all about the money. They would only return calls and emails when convenient for them (very unprofessional). I think although some people say they had a great experience that is not usually the case. I also think their staff goes on to these sites and writes positive things. If you haven't signed with them don't. If you have SWITCH agencies. If you don't you will be writing one of these warnings to others. more

T H A N K...Y O U...G W C A !!! We are forever grateful for Great Wall China Adoption in helping us build a family. G enuine in keeping prospective parents informed W illingness to go the extra miles in helping prospective parents build a family through adoption C aring in answering questions and following up throughout the adoption process A ttentiveness in getting things done GWCA has definitely exceeded our expectations in the overall international adoption process, travel phase, and post-adoption process. From the beginning to the completion of our first adoption journey, we truly appreciate the GWCA Team's dedication, attention to details, and experience in international adoption. Occasionally, We've received emails late in the evening or on a weekend and even received a phone call after work hours to help address urgent matters. When we traveled to meet our child, we had awesome caring GWCA Travel Guides who helped us through the maze of finalizing the adoption, translated for us at international government agencies, hotels, stores, and restaurants, loaded and unloaded strollers on the bus, set up the strollers, provided umbrellas when it was rainy, consoled a crying child, celebrated a child's birthday with a cake, arranged tours, talked about the country's history and culture, and also offered tips on bonding. Being newbies to a foreign country, we would have been totally lost without the guides' help and understanding. We are currently using GWCA for our second adoption and are waiting for our child. more

WOW! \r \r We are adoptive parents in which we use twice GW agency. Our experience is completely different from what I read from some of you.\r First NOBODY but absolutely nobody even our lord can give 100 percent assurance of a child. Healthy or unhealthy. So unfortunately that happens with adoption, without international adoption or domestic adoption.\r When I read the comments about staff and the president Snow Wu quickly realized that you do not have an idea who they are, never met them. The staff in the dossier preparation, the department of waiting child enjoyed the work they do. They are excellent human beings.\r We had an excellent process. Both adoptions run smoothly. The social workers were awesome.\r The personal attention of helping us to complete the documents for the dossier, monitoring after having our DTC (now is LID) was more than excellent. \r I know families from the FCC here in Texas who asked me how I know in what part of the process I am. We never can say we were lost, emails were coming everyday! The staff in the Travel department was more than excellent. They will mention a travel agency which you can use or not use it. But DO NOT say you necessarily have to use it. \r .\r We have some friends adopting in China and living in Florida who the agency that they are using charged them monthly while waiting for their referral. The agency received the referral but do not give them the referral. \r I think the comments before about this agency and staff is unfair.\r My personal opinion and with all the respect you deserve I do not think you have to blame the agency unfairly. Ask the Lord when and how you will receive your child adopted or not.\r more

Be careful. I did not have a pleasant experience with this agency. They hire- and defend- social workers who are disorganized and give clients the runaround. I would not recommend this agency to prospective clients. more

Hi \r I have a completely different opinion about GWCA than you. We have used them on 2 different occations for adopting and have found them to be very accomodating! All of their staff are very caring and helpful and they have an excellent relationship with China. I have not found this in other agencies. Also I think that it speaks highly of them that they have not shut thier doors like some other adoption agencies have in the last couple of years. In addition they are involved in a lot of humanitarian work in China! They cannot help it that the wait time is so long! I would strongly encourage people to use GWCA for their adoptions! Again I am disappointed that RimRobert has so much anger against GWCA and is taking it out on them! GWCA ROCKS! more

Our family is being formed by an adoption using Great Wall China Adoption Agency.\r \r After a great deal of research we chose Great Wall China Adoption because of their outstanding professionalism, commitment to children, and the ongoing support and educational opportunities that they make available to their families. International Adoption has become extremely challenging in the last several years and GWCA has been able to adapt and continue to stay child focused--and this is their focus. The forming of Forever Families is the outgrowth of their devotion to and assistance for orphaned children.\r \r The pricing is competitive for the quality of service provided. I know several other families who have used GWCA/CAN and also families who haven't. I have not met a well informed and educated family who has not been pleased with this agency. And professionals nationally and internationally have spoken at their educational conferences. If the purported comments about this Not for Profit, Hague Approved Adoption Agency were substantive, then these conferences would not be so well regarded by professionals within the Int'l Adoption field.\r \r As to the comments about the age of their staff, perhaps this is why age discrimination is illegal in the US. We have been involved in this process for so long that we are on our 3rd Home Study Social Worker. Our first Social Worker was the youngest and has proven to be the most knowledgeable and professional of those with whom we've worked. Her age was not a deficit--and I haven't found the age of the staff at GWCA to be a deficit whether the person is in their 20's or 50's or somewhere between. \r \r As to the management style of Snow Wu, high expectations for the staff are clearly articulated by the management of this company and we've found them to be met. I don't find a desire for excellence to be a negative, but I know that in my management experience it's not unusual for employees who are focused on just being adequate do find that it is a challenge to work where the best is expected for the clients. are on our 2nd Home Study agency because our original agency, as is the case with many in the US, weren't as well managed fiscally and functionally as GWCA. Therefore they weren't prepared for the changes in Int'l Adoption trends and policies. Many agencies were not able to remain viable and servicing their families, as has GWCA/CAN. Snow Wu has provided such outstanding leadership and compassion in the field of Adoption that she was recognized nationally with the Angel in Adoption Award in 2003. \r \r Finally, as to the cost of using the a professional travel planner with whom GWCA works to arrange travel in China, I want to have this dealt with seamlessly! I travel quite a bit for business and want to leave this part of the trip to someone who knows what they're doing so that I may focus on my new child and our trip to China. I do know several people in China, but if there were to be a really serious like the snowstorms, flooding and earthquake of the last several years I don't want to call my friends except to make sure that they are safe and well. I want to call a professional who is focused on this aspect of the adoption and who can work to solve any problem. If I were to not work with GWCA's travel people I would work with another company and their focus would be on typical sightseeing and tourism; I want to work with a group whose focus is the same as ours, travel for the purpose of completing our adoption!\r \r My personality is to be value driven and detail oriented and I've found the value of working with GWCA to be even more than I had hoped for and expected. If you're thinking of pursuing International Adoption, don't hesitate to call this agency.\r more

great wall was a great agency to adopt from. We adopted an older child from China understanding the frustrations of the length of time adoptions were taking. We were supported all of the way. Yes we did have to ensure that our paper work was current, but they provided repeat home visits AT NO COST to assist in that process. \r Travel Costs: You may be surprised but using a travel agent does not ensure the lowest price. It does ensure a worry free connection process in the USA and in China. Yes I could have booked my China Southern flights for less in China. But in the USA you can not simply give your credit card number over the phone to a booking agent in China.\r Hotels: Again you can book your own hotels direct, but again getting payment to China.... One person commented about paying late check out, we paid nothing we just left with our check out stub and Great Wall payed it all.\r Support: Having an experienced guide in China taking care of the payments was very comforting. Michael, our guide, was well versed in a province that rarely adopts children. There were three other agencies picking up children at the same time, he helped theses persons as well. \r Agency: You may have words with Snow and wish to slander her, but she is committed to helping the adoptive families. Does she make money, yes as well she should. I make money caring for the sick as a nurse, maybe that is wrong. \r Costs: Chinese agency costs are set by the CCAF a governmental agency in China. These unlike other contries are published and rather concrete. Agency costs, if you check the many online adoption services are much the same. \r I have attended several conferences put on by Great Wall and have spoken to most all of the employees. Most have adopted. Many have Masters degrees, some have moved to other positions away from Austin.\r I live in San Antonio and am not on the payroll or have any reason to ""speak up"" Great Wall other than the quality service they provided my family. more

I am in travel phase w GW. Don't I wished that I have read those reviews sooner.\r \r Please give me any advise son how I should be doing now. I don't want to give GW more money than what I have already given them. more

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.\r (4) Don't believe what the local guide told you since they are connected with GW. Just to be careful.\r 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. \r 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.\r 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!!! \r 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.\r DON'T use GWCA!!!\r more

Horrible agency!!!! PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR HEART, AND YOUR MONEY! RUN AWAY!!! Unethical, corrupt and should be shut down. Reports on file through Texas DCFS. Shady in-country work... referred more Chinese children from Guandong province where numerous stolen children were found than any other agency. I'm confident their new agency ""Children of All Nations"" business in Ethiopia is WORSE given the corruption present there... Snow Wu is probably having a field day. Not in the business for the children by any means. They are in the business pure and simple for the money... everyone here is RIGHT. Examine their 990 tax returns and decide for yourself. When adoptions slowed in China, Snow Wu opened another agency to rake in more money from unsuspecting hopeful potential parents. They make MILLIONS, yet have donated next to NOTHING to the children in China, or anywhere else. Horrible relations in China, despite their glowing self-promotions. The worst I've heard: They Photoshopped pictures of children they refer to cover severe, untreatable birth defects that families found out once in China. Claims they maintain an office in Beijing, yet on their tax returns, they claim none! Snow Wu, President, is an evil, lying narcissist that can't keep a staff member more than a year because she is tyranical, bullyish and power hungry. Expect to be treated like your an annoyance to the staff, who are all about 23, and rather be at a keg party. RUN RUN RUN from this agency and CHILDREN OF ALL NATIONS!!!! Cons: TOO MANY TO LIST, ABSOLUTELY HORRID ON EVERY LEVEL more

To make long story short, they charge ALOT of money just for processing fees and stuff like that. They called themselves non-profit but all they want is MONEY MONEY and MONEY!!! You can just tell from their faces and the way that they present their services. I asked the staffs about the process and they dont even know what they are talking about. The worse part is: they would not guarentee you would have a child even though you are dumping sooooo much money in it. \r \r All in all, the existence of the agency is a joke and should be shut down. Trust me!! Read the other reviews and you will know what i am talking about.... except for the first one, coz I think the owner himself wrote it. Pros: I can't think of any at this point... Cons: UnProfessional services. Not compassionate at all. BEWARE! more

Terrible agency. Unethical, expensive. None of the staff are infertile or adoptive parents, so they have no idea what it's like to be an adopting parent. The staff act like they rather be at a keg party. They mislead and misrepresent their services... if you read the fine print, all they are legally required to do is mail your dossier to China. They don't even guarantee you a child. Save your money and go somewhere else. This agency is far from non profit or a charity. They should be shut down. Cons: too many to list more

It's owned by a Chinese woman called Snow Wu with some very unprofessional young women. They are not trying to find a baby for you and all they wanted it's your money. \r \r They are liers!\r \r * Read other people's stories with Great Wall China Adoption. more

This compnay should not be a ""nonprofit""! They are all about money. Very sad. more