These are the most frequently asked questions of families regarding our waiting child program!
Do I have to be a client of Great Wall before I submit my application?
Although any family interested in our program can submit an application for the Waiting Child Program there is a $100.00 fee for reviewing, processing and access to the password protected site of our waiting child website. Please know if you are matched with a Waiting Child but you have not submitted a formal application with our agency, you must submit a formal agency application to move forward with the adoption of a Waiting Child. If approved, you will also need to submit the agency agreement and fee. There is a $250 fee to submit a formal Great Wall application with our agency. The $100.00 fee originally provided with the Waiting Child Program application will be applied to the initial Great Wall application .
How much medical information is provided for each child?
This depends on the orphanage, but typically each child has photos, a medical exam, a growth report and lab work that supports the medical exam. A translation of both the medical exam and the growth report will be provided to the family selected for placement. The growth report provides a brief biography of the child during their time at the orphanage; including daily routine, eating and sleeping habits, etc. The lab work that supports the medical exam will be provided to the family un-translated, therefore, we recommend having this information reviewed by a physician that specializes in International Adoption.
Please understand that these children are not always exposed to western medicine and therefore, testing and treatment that would be easily accessible to us is not always available to these children. Therefore, the medical information that is provided for these children is often limited.
Do current Great Wall families receive priority when considering the placement of a child?
Since our Waiting Child program is open to all families, when we review applications, we consider all families equally and regardless of their standing in the process. Please note at this time the CCAA only allows placement of Waiting Children with families who have a dossier logged in at the CCAA
What happens once a family decides to move forward with the adoption?
If your family has been selected for placement of a child and you decide to move forward with the adoption, your first step will be to contact your Waiting Child Case Manager. They will provide you with instructions and the necessary paperwork to begin the adoption process.
What happens when a family receives a travel approval?
When we receive the TA, the family then transitions to our Travel Team. Your travel advisor will recommend that you begin applying for your visa. The travel advisor will then begin requesting the family's appointment at the U.S. Consulate. We cannot schedule the appointment with the Consulate until we have the family's travel approval. Once the Consulate appointment is set, the Travel Team can then begin to arranging the travel. The estimated time between receiving the travel approval and actually traveling is about 2 to 4 weeks. The adoption is then finalized while the family is in China.
Do families travel alone or with a group?
Families often travel with other adoptive families but may travel alone depending on province, date of travel and guide availability.
