In the initial phase, an International Adoption Consultant will speak with your family to answer any questions that you have about the China adoption process!  At this point, your adoption consultant will provide you with  free China Adoption Information Guide, and review your family’s eligibility to make sure that it is in accordance with the requirements that are set in place by the CCCWA.

If there are any concerns regarding your family’s qualifications, your International Adoption Consultant will communicate with GWCA’s China Division to verify your eligibility before moving forward.

Regardless of which service plan you select for your adoption process, your family’s dossier is in great hands with GWCA. Our dossier consultants are extremely experienced and will guide you through the paper chase with genuine warmth and unparalleled expertise. Our dossier consultants will:

• Reviewing your documents accurately and in a timely manner
• Advising you of any errors in your paperwork, allowing you to correct the problem prior to submitting your dossier
• Sending your approved dossier to China (on the Friday after it is approved)
• Making sure your dossier is hand delivered to the CCCWA by our in-country staff

Dragon Dossier Service
In addition to consulting families throughout the dossier process, GWCA offers a Dragon Dossier service to help with the preparation of the dossier documents. This includes gathering your documents for the CCCWA, getting them certified by the appropriate Secretary of State, and getting them authenticated by the appropriate Chinese Consulate or Embassy.

One of the greatest differences between the traditional China adoption program, and the Waiting Child program is the matching process. While matches in the traditional program are provided by the CCCWA, matches for the Waiting Child program are assigned by GWCA with the help and guidance of the adoptive family. This provides the family with the opportunity to play a role in finding their forever child, as they are able to review several files while searching for a child that is the perfect fit for their family.

Once a family’s dossier is sent to China, they enter the referral phase of the adoption. Our experienced Referral Education Counselors are available throughout the adoption journey while your family waits for the official referral of your child. Their services include the following:

• Making sure your paperwork does not expire
• Providing you with informational updates
• Providing counseling and advice
• Discussing any information regarding your child
• Referring you to international adoption specialists
• Requesting an updated medical report as needed
• Instructing you in completing your referral acceptance paperwork
• Sending your referral acceptance to China
• Delivering your referral acceptance to the CCCWA upon arrival in China
• Providing education about bonding and attachment, childhood development, Chinese culture, tips on parenting an adopted child, how to deal with cultural sensitivity, ways to childproof you home, and how to welcome your new child

Once you have accepted your referral, you will begin working with our travel staff to arrange your trip to China! Our GWCA Travel Specialists will share their wealth of knowledge and assist you in all facets of arranging your Trip. This includes:

• Notifying you once you’ve been approved to travel
• Arranging your adoption appointments with Chinese officials, intra-China flights, transportation, tours, and hotel accommodations
• Requesting and confirming your American Consulate appointment for your child’s visa
• Providing you with information about cultural differences and ways to be culturally sensitive while in China
• Verifying that your required paperwork is current and valid for travel
• Counseling you on what to expect when you pick up your child
• Providing you with a detailed travel itinerary and your in-country guides’ contact information
• Serving as your contact in the US if you have questions while you’re traveling in China

With GWCA’s travel services, each of our families is met at the airport by their China guide and accompanied throughout the country for the duration of their travel. The trip also provides a scenic day-long tour of Beijing that includes opportunities to meet locals and take pictures. This time spent in China provides families with the opportunity to experience the culture and history of their child’s birthplace firsthand.

The majority of our in-country guides are permanent staff members who work exclusively for Great Wall China Adoption. This dedicated staff is solely focused on making sure your stay in China is as pleasant and memorable as possible. Our guides provide the following list of services to every family with GWCA:

• Preparing all of your adoption paperwork for you and make sure you meet all provincial rules and regulations
• Verifying that your child’s information is correct and make arrangements for you to receive your child
• Taking your family to a doctor, if necessary, while you’re in China
• Escorting you throughout your travel to adoption meetings and appointments, medical exams, CIS and consulate appointments, and on provincial tours
• Interpreting conversations with Chinese officials, orphanage staff and nannies, foster parents (if applicable), and hotel staff
• Reviewing Chinese and CIS adoption paperwork for accuracy and errors, and prepare you every day for what to expect so there are no surprises

GWCA’s travel guides have an unparalleled reputation for excellence within the Chinese adoption community. Many of our families have become so attached to their China travel guides that they have continued to send letters and photos to them years after returning home with their children. Additionally, those families who later go on to adopt another child through GWCA often request to use the same guide again, as their first experience was so pleasant.

When you return home with your child, GWCA’s Post Adoption Counselor will welcome you home and provide you with information about the following items:

• Re-adoption (highly recommended)
• Local adoption support
• Chinese cultural resources
• Great Wall families living nearby

Your Post Adoption Counselor will advise you and periodically send reminders about your post adoption reports. The purpose of each report is to let China and Great Wall know how everyone is adjusting to the adoption.

The China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) requires that six (6) Post Adoption Reports be completed over the course of five (5) years after the adoption process.  

For Families with Travel Approvals prior to 01/01/2015 –
The Timing for these reports include:

Report Number	Report Timing	Completed by:
Report 1	One (1) month	Social Worker
Report 2	Six (6) months	Social Worker
Report 3	Twelve (12) months	Social Worker
Report 4	Two (2) years	Family
Report 5	Three (3) years	Family
Report 6	Five (5) years	Family

For Families with Travel Approvals after 01/01/2015 –
The timing for these reports include:

Report Number	Report Timing	Completed by:
Report 1	Six (6) months	Social Worker
Report 2	Twelve (12) months	Social Worker
Report 3	Two (2) years	Social Worker
Report 4	Three (3) years	Family
Report 5	Four (4) years	Family
Report 6	Five (5) years	Family

GWCA welcomes families that wish to continue expanding their family through our international adoption programs! We offer reduced fees for our previous families, so be sure to speak with our team if you’re thinking of beginning your adoption journey again! If you are planning on adopting within 12 months of your last adoption, you may be able to reuse your previous dossier. GWCA would be happy to assist your family with the necessary updates to begin this process!