Had a grounding medical issue thats now resolved but will need a special issuance per my ame. Just curious how long it can take to get approval from FAA and also does anyone have any experience with that company in Oaklahoma that will handle all the paperwork for you to get your medical back(for a fee)?

They have a separate department that handles this along with any legal issues if needed. Well worth the money 

better than the group that handles airline pilots. But, keep steady communication and encouragement going their way pointed at resolving your problem (common sense).

They are very slow even with the best membership.  Your best defense & help is YOU, be proactive, read and do...  All organizations are geared to take lots of your money to help.  

But had a non issue medical issue, but because I thought I had a problem, the faa grounded me per my AME even all of the tests came back negative.  He said his hands were tied.  FAA eventually gave me my medical, 6 months after I took exam.  Here is a fun fact, they take those 6 months off of your time like it was issued the day of exam even though actual issue date was 6 months later. 

Best of luck in your challenging course and I hope you had insurance to cover your loss of work.

First of all, every medical issue that requires a SI has its own timeline. I had an issue 15 years ago. It took me 3 months of testing and paperwork to get it resolved, and I did not require an SI. I sought out a senior AME that was experienced in the paperwork requirement that OKLA wanted. Do as much work and research as you can, don't depend on others that you have to pay. Also, unfortunately, you are at the mercy of a lack of FAA folks reviewing paperwork, so your wait may be months. Hopefully not. Good luck and I wish you well. 

I have been on a Special Issuance for 7 years! I take my physical every April at an AME I have used for years! He gives me the renewed physical Form 8500-9 which eventually will be replaced by another one from the FAA in OKC with final approval! Don't expect it too soon! Usually takes 6 to 8 months to receive it!   Last year it was 9 months!

Go here and read the posts.  You can also post annonomously 

https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/forums/medical-topics.13/

I have a SI for a medication. It took 4 months to get approval to start the medication. my doc called at 3.5 months and raised some hell to accelerate it before my medical expired. Since then it's been no issue and I get a second medical sent to me from OKC every year. It's stupid because it's 10 months behind and only  good for 2 months by the time they issue it. 

is definitely time to get in touch with your Congress persons, all of them simultaneously, AND copy to your lawyer, or any lawyer your choose to get involved.  The FAA is disastrously impacting your livelihood and need to compensate you.  

It is truly hard to believe it takes that long but I believe it is definitely possible.  Not insulting you.

I personally wouldn't let something like that go on for more than a month before I got "proactive" as above.

When I was getting my SI put together it was a 6-8 months long process, but thats been a few years.  It doesn't help that they will only give direction through physical mail, and it seemed like every result I sent back warranted a different test to check something else.  Through the process I was getting correspondence every 3-5 weeks I think.  So, test, mail out results, and wait

Like every federal agency, the faa sucks and doesn't care how long it takes. They are in no hurry to clear your paperwork off of their desks. The typical faa drone is only going to work the bare minimum of 40 hours a week, and really doesn't care that you have bills to pay. 

This issue has been going on for decades, and it has NEVER gotten better. Everyone knows there is a major problem in OK city and nothing is ever done to make it better. These guys are just marking time until they can retire and get their pensions. The taxpayers (pilots) definitely do not get their money's worth with the faa clown show. There is very little that they make better or more efficient.

Like other said, depending on your issue better plan on at least 6 months. I know several pilots who have been out over a year and are still waiting to get an answer from the faa. Meanwhile they have exceeded all of their company's availablel LTD, FMLA, PTO, and have been let go.

Thanks for all the replies! sounds like it will be a long process, its frustrating tho as I have a clean bill of health from my GP and AME, I did the right thing and grounded myself and disclosed it to my AME, got enough saved for 6 months but if it goes longer then I guess Ill find something non aviation. In hindsight I wish I had paid for some kind of loss of medical insurance.

to light a fire under this issue.

I get it reference the FAA beurocracy and marching time to retirement and all the rest but THEY work for you, YOU don't work for them.  

Don't allow them to turn that equation on its head.  Bad stuff.

I got diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes while working overseas.  Unfortunately it runs in my family.  It took the local medical folks 4 weeks to see the medication was effective; and I had to do a cardiac stress to prove I didn't have any circulation issues, and an expanded eye exam.  The AME gave me a Class 1 certificate at the end of the 4 weeks.  I had to renew it every 6 months and they checked my blood sugar each time.  The stress test and eye exam were annual requirements.

I got back to the USA and reported my Type 2 on my first physical back.  I had an FAA form to get filed out and signed by my PCP.  The AME submitted it about a week after my Class 2.  He said he "hoped" it would take about a month to get the SI, but he could issue the renewals after that, as long as the form showed bt BS was under control.  BTW, no stress test or eye exam requirements.  ???  No such luck!  The exam and blood test were done in mid August and the SI wasn't issued until Feb!!!  Oh, and everytime I called to find out what the hold up was, I got VM message that said leave your info and we'll get back to you.  They never did.  I asked my AME to get involved and, instead, he gave me the number he used to call OKC.  I got an actual person the very first time I called, and boy were they P ! ZZED that I wasn't an AME calling that number!  When they asked why I called that number I told them it was because I'd been leaving weekly messages at the other number for 4 months and NO ONE had called me back.  They took my infor and said I'd "hear" from someone "soon."  I still haven't gotten a call from OKC.  A month later I complained to my Congresswoman's office and a couple of weeks later I got my SI and related paperwork in the mail. 

The funny part for me is that 2 years later I decided to retire and didn't get a physical.  Boy did I start getting hate mail for OKC.  Get us the form or else!  We're goig to sic the cops on you!  Etc.  After each certified letter I got from the FAA I sent a certified letter back saying "I've retired and don't even fly privately, so please update your records and stop threatening me."  It was like they NEVER got one of my letters, which I know they did because the USPS verified it for me.  Finally, I just stopped responding.  About 6 or 7 months after the first letter I got one saying my SI was rescended and they better not catch me flying!!!

The FAA in OKC is incompetent and they SUCK.  Good luck my friend!

lol that's like saying obesity "runs in the family" you sound like a complete idiot and I doubt most of that even happened.

You don't know the guy and you blurt this?

Weird.

fatass moron says FAA was going to call the cops on him. how can the FAA rescind a medical you don't even have bro

All true, take it or leave it.  Oh, and being condescending and rude does't make you right.  It just makes you look like a fool.

you say being fat runs in the family and the faa was going to call the cops on you but okay

I'm 63 years old and weigh less now than the day I graduated flight school.  Can you say that?  Better yet, will you be able to 40 years after you did/do?

Currently around 185 lbs and 5'10."  If that's "fat" to you, so be it.  My father is also 5'10" and about 165 lbs.  He is type 2 also.  I have two type 1 insulin dependant siblings, who have been since childhood.  I was blessed not to have to deal with the issue untill I reached my late 50s.  Dad's side of the family has a number of type 1 folks.  None of them is what I'd consider "fat."  Maybe your judgement self does, but I don't.

As for my comment that the FAA was going to "sic the cops on me," it was just a way to communicate they had threatened me with "enforcement action."  Their language, not mine.  I looked at one of their letters to make sure I used the right language for you.  I apologize for my comments confusing your simple minded self.  Now go away child, you bore me! 

OKC threatened you with enforcement action against a certificate you didn't have. lol

Yes they do