Double I and MEI
 

I'm working on the initial CFI and after this I'm going to go into II and MEI. I've heard of people combining the two and doing one checkride for both ratings and I think I'd like to do this just to get everything done sooner rather than dragging out the process. Does anyone have experience with doing this? Also if I decide to combine them how much time do you think it will take me?

I have an idea; how about don't even entertain the thought; even if an examiner will do it. Trust me, I believe you will reconsider this after you get your initial. Folks can give you all sorts of guidance on getting your CFI and what the examination will be like, but until you have been through it you honestly will not have a realistic view. If you did, you would not be considering combining examinations of this type.

Agree with Yoda 100%!

The whole point is to do these ratings and then execute them well... Not just "get through them as quickly and painlessly as possible". The effort you put into them will pay off in spades in terms of your preparation to teach others these principles. Don't short change your future students to save yourself two weeks of studying now.

Unless you are real strong student I would advise against combining the two items. I did mine separately within a few weeks, still found it taxing. A friend whom I consider capable combined them and managed to pass both but even he advised against it. If it works out you are in for a very long day and a somewhat higher risk of failing. It's too much at one time for most folks, and there is no compelling reason to combine them other than desire to finish. Do them back to back, instead.

Agree with the above 100%. Do them separately and get much more out of both. Neither are easy, and the thought of combining them gives me the chills.

He may end up also spending more $ on both since he would have to do it in a AMEL for his CFI-I. Earning both in a very short timespan could also drain his savings much quicker than to do each one at a time.

I knocked em both out in 4 days at Sheble's. 2 CFII, 2 MEI. The price was right and I was short on time.

Remember that a checkride failure means a whole lot more now. Better to be "better prepared" IMO than risk losing it either because you're trying to do too much at once or someone cracks down on the DPE that doesn't really enforce the standards.

So, if he did both at once and busted the checkride, will that be deemed as two checkride failures? That would really be a bummer if so.