It was October 2015, I was applying for PhD Graduate Schools. I emailed a Computer Science research lab that I was interested in and asked the PI if it's possible to schedule a meeting with him. The PI replied me quickly and we scheduled a meeting the following week. He was very satisfied with my resume. I expressed my interest working for the lab the following spring semester and my interest in becoming a PhD student in the lab. He told me he would keep an eye for my application when it came in but that he can't promise anything at that time. However, around December he told me there shouldn't be any problem letting me in!

They'll have you come for interview with the faculty and to meet some of the students. Important to ask the students about their experiences in the labs, and to ask the faculty about their research