NO. You can't get the VISA b4 OCt 2005. I have Gap btw Sep 20s - OCt 2004. So I went to Shanghai Sep 2004 to apply visa. First interview was on Sep 24., 2004. Visa Office gg refused to give the visa at that time. Let me go there again anytime after Oct 1, 2005. Oct 6 I got visa in 5 second interview.
I asked my lawyer . He said theortically you can apply visa prior 30 days to Valid Petition day and prior 10days to arrive USA. So who knows?