IMO salvation occurs the moment you believe Jesus is the Son of God, accept him as your savior, and repent of your sins. Then you must act on your faith and be baptized or your “faith” would be revealed as null and void (never really existed) and you would still be in your sins.
Faith without works is dead (doesn't really exist). But faith is what saves us, not works; works are just a confirmation of our faith.
Excellent.