Re-Entry Permit - How long until biometrics?

[ajhigh 2]

Hi VJers,

I will shortly be applying for a re-entry permit.

Received conditional green card in September 2014.

My husband (USC by birth) has been notified of a short-term expat assignment to Zurich, commencing in April 2015. I'll be going with him. The assignment is for 2 years.

[sidenote: We understand that there is some risk in this - e.g. USCIS may determine I have abandoned status, even if I have a re-entry permit. We believe we should be OK with REP, because at the conclusion of the 2 years, husband will be bonded to his Chicago-based company for 4 years - i.e. we are definitely coming back after 2 years, and we will have various contracts in place + letters from employer to that effect. We also intend to keep a US residence, drivers licenses, and will of course continue filing taxes.]

Issue: I want to try to time it so that I only need one REP - i.e. I don't want to apply too early, because if I receive the REP in, say, February, it would expire February 2017 - two months ahead of our intended return date (April 2017).

So I figure I need to file it early enough that I can get biometrics done before our move, but not so early that the REP is approved too soon.

I think I'm making this post more complicated than it needs to be! My question is this: anyone know how long after receipt of application the biometrics appointment usually is? Should I use the waiting time I had for my green card / EAD as a guideline? And anyone know how long after biometrics the REP application usually takes?

Thanks!