They have reserved the right to change their visa rules without prior notice, never forget that!
In my view, the whole shebang is a dog's dinner, concocted by haughty Chinese cadres in ivory towers.
That said, I've no doubt eg will know the best way forward for himself, as I do too - he's an old China hand, like me. You see, the powers that be can fob off complaints from aliens, but not so easily from their Chinese spouses. Thanks for advising him, I've already done so by PM.