I have obtained my visa thogh you on several previous occasions over the past few years. On this occasion, despite clearly putting my date of travel, I was given a visa starting from the date of application rather than the date of travel. Since one is now obliged to pay for a 2-year visa this is very annoying since it will run out before I next wish to visit China despite the high charge, whereas if it had run from 3 May as requested I would have been able to use it again and got double the benefit from my payment. When I rang to complain I did not get a satisfactory response. What is the point in employing an intermediary if they simply say it is up to the Chinese? Why ask for the date of travel if this is ignored in the validity date of the visa? Why not make clear on the form that the visa will be valid from date of application and not of travel? Philip Watson