You have to send in the application and when you get the approval back then you set an appointment for an interview. Both times I set the appt they asked me for the number that comes back with the approval, so not sure they will set an appt until you have the approval.

It took at least a month if not two for my approval to come back last year. I then did my wife's the beginning of this year and hers was about the same.

Once I got the approval though they were really good at helping me do the interview. I was in Buffalo on business and called them up the week before and they said since you are from CA and will be here we will squeeze you it.

If you are hoping for next month (Oct) I wouldn't count on it as when I called for the appt for my wife in Toronto they said there was a two week wait for appts but I set it a month prior (in July of this year).