China Visa

I haven't seen anyone post about this, so I thought I would try to get some info.  Does anyone have any experience in applying for a Chinese tourist visa?  DH and I (both US citizens living here in Wales) are going at the end of December and we are getting conflicting information.  We are trying to get a multiple entry 1 year visa.  US citizens have different rules for visiting China than UK citizens, but we are allowed to apply through a UK agency.  The agencies in London and Manchester that let us apply by post say they have to follow the UK regulations even for US citizens.  They have said they won't forward an application for a multiple entry 1 year visa b/c that is only allowed for people with relatives in China, and they will only let us apply for a double entry 6-month visa.  The US embassy however issues multiple entry 1 year visas regularly to US tourists.  It would be a huge hassle to send all our documents over to the US to apply over there.  Has anyone else dealt with this situation and know how to get around the stricter guidelines for UK citizens and get a multiple entry 1 year visa as a US citizen?

 

The US embassy however issues multiple entry 1 year visas regularly to US tourists.  It would be a huge hassle to send all our documents over to the US to apply over there.  Has anyone else dealt with this situation and know how to get around the stricter guidelines for UK citizens and get a multiple entry 1 year visa as a US citizen?

Isn't it the Chinese Embassy that issues the visa's. Surely you could apply for a visa directly to the Chinese Embassy or am I missing something here?

Is this link not useful?

http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsyw/chivisa/aa/t514391.htm

It seems to say you both can apply for visas, but are subject to different fees.

My bf (UKC) went to China last year and had an in-person interview/appt at the Chinese Embassy in London. He was issued the visa straight away. I don't know if that would be different or apply to USC but it was fairly simple from what he told me.