Here is my experience of GC application for reference:
9/29/05: both 140 and 485 (EB2 NIW) originally sent to the CSC
10/3/05: PD
11/05: finger printing
4/06: transferred to the TSC
4/06: AP applied
5/26/06: AP approved by the TSC
Early Jul, 06: back to China with AP (turned in the H-1b visa extension
application to my university before left)
7/06: 140 approved by the TSC
Middle Jul, 06: H-1b visa applied at Shanghai, security checked
Late Jul, 06: security check clear, got H-1b visa
Early Aug, 06: return with H-1b visa, did not use AP
Dec. 06: H-1b renewal
Early May, 07: finger printing
6/7/07: card ordered notice (email)
6/8/07: online updated (same as the email notice)
Hope the info is useful. Good luck to everyone.