Update: they emailed me out of nowhere and declined me after giving me an interview... I'm so over this firm. I'm going to hang tight at my job for the next 6 months and try to apply back at the end of 2023.

Most bizarre update- received an email that I was formally declined because they want no-one pending but I am still invited to interview and they will be reaching out later in the year once they are approved to open up the pool again. can't make this up.