I'm gearing up to potentially make a career change and I want to make the process as efficient as possible. I've been diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea for roughly over 1 year to good effect. I understand I need to submit documentation showing compliance. I can get the documents rather quickly but I am wondering what the best thing to do would be. If I bring them to my initial meeting with the AME, will they be able to issue my SI more quickly? Would I instead need to send them directly to the FAA (or whoever handles it at the upper level)? What do I need to do to save the most time? Essentially I'm trying to avoid as much bureaucratic delays and headaches as possible. Thanks.

Additionally, does anyone know if airlines care about your medical being conditional to an SI, or does it not matter as long as you get the certificate?

I held a first when I got each of my SIs. (I have numerous things that drive SI, OSA is one of them)

Unless it's different for "never held a medical" types, I walked in with my usage report and diagnosis letter and a letter saying I'm tolerating the CPAP and walked out with a 1st class.

Only caveat is mine is invalid after a year vs becoming a third class.

Never even a question from any company I interviewed with. And when I walk in the room, one of the SIs becomes pretty obvious. Only thing they even see is "Not valid for any class beyond Month/Year"

They don't see what it's for.

If you bring in all the appropriate paperwork and are under good control the AME can usually issue him/herself.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...ow%20Chart.pdf

you can fly for 90 days while they complete the paperwork for your special issuance.