Need to pick up visa's for china

I am traveling to with my husband and grandson but am in Chicago next Monday for National Restaurant Show and would like to go get my visa as we are traveling mud June to Thailand so this is my most convenient time to make trip to Chicago. Will they extend visa out that long? We travel back to US on July 11, and I believe travel dates for Beijing are June 24th through July 1st. I also do not have my hotel confirmations. Will I need those? We do have airline tickets and some hotel arrangements but son who lives in Thailand has done booking. Will I be able to pay with credit card at consulate or is cash required?