Chinese "F" Visa
 

I'm trying to apply for a F visa for a short term program in China but am worried I won't be granted a visa that lasts the whole term of the program (a summer). Is there any rhyme or reason to the length of time granted for an F visa and any way to maximize the chance I get a visa valid for the whole time?

Is there any particular reason that you don't think you'll get a visa valid for the entire duration of your program? Especially if attending the program is the reason that you provide when applying for the visa?

First thing is to make sure that the F is the correct visa for whatever it is you are trying to do. A few years ago, many activities that were under the F were redesignated for other visa types. If it's a short-term study program you are doing, usually X2 is the correct visa category. If a short-term business internship or something, normally those are going under M category now.

If F is the correct category (usually something done with a connection to a higher education organization/institution where you're not a student), then the inviter should be able to give you an invitation letter that specifies the entire period. Durations of stay on an F visa are customized to whatever the inviter asks for. For US citizens applying in USA, the overall duration of an F is usually limited to 1 year. If there is any reason to believe that in the middle of this period, you might take an excursion out of China--like to Hong Kong or Korea, etc, then make sure you ask for a double- or multiple-entry visa and in the comment section, you can state why.