How to Read USCIS Field Office Processing times?

[snooki703 7]

Hey y'all,

We filed for AOS from an F1 Visa in the Washington DC office back in November which we hear is a very backlogged office in general.

On the 15th of every month, USCIS updates the field office processing times and according to the table, I-485 applications from May 25, 2010 are being processed in the Wash DC office - as of December 31, 2010.

Previously, the website said as of November 31,2010 they were reviewing apps from June 2, 2010

How is it possible that they are reviewing applications submitted from an earlier period, shouldn't they be moving forward?

Is it really true that an office would take THIS long to process an I-485 application (aka. over 7 months??)

Or, alternatively, does it mean that on average they process I-485 applicants in 4-5 mos. but that as of that period, they had some anomalies/outliers who filed way back in May 25, 2010?

I noticed that some Washington DC filers from August-October 2010 are already approved/being approved in what is around 5 mos. (definitely NOT 7 mos.) so I don't know if I'm reading the USCIS Field Office Processing times correctly.

Any clarification would give me much mental health.

Thanks!