Regarding Chinese visas, I really don't know what to say. For most of the last decade until about a year and a half ago I normally got 1 year visas for China. Because of the spat between China and the US, last October or so, I was informed that I could only get 6 months max, which I have gotten about every six months or so since then. I just recently got another 6 month one, so I know definately 100% that this is the case. Judging from your original comments however, do I take it that your wife may be of Chinese origin and this may have played some part in the shortened timespan they offered?