Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
Plus all of the visa service agency fees and charges for those who do not live and work in a city with a Chinese consulate.
In my case, the visa service agencies wouldn't get me a ten year visa because my passport was expiring in 12-14 months, which they said has been leading to denials at the Chicago office but without a clear line about exactly far the passport must be from expiration.
Interesting, I used mychinavisa.com (Houston office) in December, with only 12 months and 3 weeks left until passport expired. They told me as long as I had 12 months, the Consulate would process for a 10-year visa. Sorry that Chicago Consulate seems to have different perception.
As soon as you renew that passport though, you should consider getting the 10-year visa and leave TWOV use behind, as you seem to visit/pass through China enough to warrant the expense.
Sorry for your experience though. You seem to unearth all of Delta's storehouse of the stubborn + ignorant. I should think you have a good case for recourse.