Not enough information in evidence to properly answer the question...
- How long ago was this suspension? How old are you now?
- What occurred to cause the suspension?
- How did you answer Question 18v? What information did you disclose on the form explaining the situation? What information did the AME enter on his side of the form regarding this situation?
- When the AME declared "I am deferring", did he provide a more detailed explanation why he chose deferral?
- When the AME deferred, did he counsel you on what may be needed to satisfy the information request that you're going to be getting from Oklahoma City?
None of these questions need to be answered here unless you wish to.
But for any of us to have a decent chance of answering your question (including Doctors Bruce and Lou), more information is needed.
((( Edit to add: I see Dr. Bruce Chien provided his input. Good! He is extremely knowledgeable in matters such as this )))
To answer the "How long will this process take?", the short answer is, many weeks.
- The AME will transmit his exam findings via the MedXpress system (possibly already done, but let's hedge on a few days)
- The file marked "deferral" will land into the "work in progress" pile and await a reviewer's attention.
- A reviewer finally gets to your file. It's likely going to be 2 to 5 weeks before this happens.
- The reviewer will compare the information provided in the file by both you and the AME, compare to the standards of issuance and
- Deny (we really hope this doesn't happen)
- Issue (the possibility exists, but solely depends on the reason for the deferral, the information provided, information they dig up in background checks, and more)
- Continue the deferral.
- If #3, then you will receive a letter from OKC stating that as things stand, they are unable to issue your medical certificate and state the reason. Then they will request for additional details and provide you a list of things you need to obtain and send back to them. Not uncommon is you have 60 days from when the letter was generated to get your reply with the requested info back to their office.
- Say it takes you nearly the full 60 days to gather the requested information and send it in.
- Your reply lands in the mail room, the letter is opened and eventually scanned. Recent info from various sources tells us it's taking up to three weeks for items to be scanned into the system.
- Your updated file returns to the "work in progress pile and awaits a reviewer's attention
- Steps 3, 4, & 5 are repeated. Hopefully you don't get deferred again.
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For anyone else other than "The Walrus" who happens upon this post from a Google Search, please learn this important takeaway:
Do not proceed to the AME's office for any first time medical certification exam unless
- you fully understand the process of the examination
- you fully understand the information they want,
- you fully understand the ramifications of the answers you will provide, and
- you know beyond 100% without a doubt that you will be issued your certificate right then and there.
If there is
any doubt, do not do a "live exam" with the AME.
Do a consultative visit only to gather information. Do a search on this forum for the keyword "Consult" and "consultation" to find past threads that explain this.