Haven't been back here in a while since I moved back to the US, but here goes:

I have a 1-year multi-entry L visa that's set to expire in March, and I was thinking of renewing it by making a side trip to Hong Kong when I go visit my mom in Shanghai in early January (the idea being that this would be less work than a visa agent since in the US I now live in a small town in Montana- the last US-based visa agent I tried insisted that my building didn't exist when it came time to mail my passport back). I've only had experience applying together with my mom around '07 or '08 (her getting a Z visa and myself getting some sort of L visa) so I don't know how it would go nowadays.

Question 1: How likely am I to get another 1-year multi-entry L visa if I bring in my application myself?

Question 2: My extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents though due to personal reasons I'd rather not ask my grandparents if I can with others) are Chinese citizens. Could I go for a Q2 visa instead with one of them as the inviting family member, or does that have to be done in the US?