I received the permanent resident cards of both my wife and mine when i opned my mail box 5 min ago. Although i feel very sorry for the bad news about the current VB, I just want to keep my promise to share with you my info,hopefully it will be helpful for some of your guys.
both 140 and 485 were filed: 2005.1
140 was approved: 2005.3
finger print: 2005.5
the case was transfered from vermont to Boston: 2005.7
interviewed at even smaller local office: 2005.11 (no idea when the case transfered from Boston).
received teh approval notice from the local office: 7/6/2006.
received the welcome letter from vermont center: 7/14/2006.
received the plastic card: 7/18/2006.
Sorry for the guys who are still waiting desperately. I hope you have a good luck! This information may make you feel better: I came to the states before 9.11 as a postdoc. my main accomplishment for filing NIW was done in China.