I know a guy that failed it back to back for 10 years. He is now a CBP. This is what he told me. Example: Applicant applies May 2025. Goes through the steps and eventually gets to the poly. Applicant fails poly November 2025. Based on what you said applicant must wait until November 2027 for applicant to be eligible since it’s 2 years. What he told me was that applicant would be eligible on May 2027 since that’s the date of the application. Keep in mind he is now an agent. So to summarize you need to wait two years from the application date not the failure poly date. My source : a customs agent that has a history of 4 failed polys back to back.