Once account recovery is started https://iforgot.apple.com/ will give you the final amount of days (can be weeks) you’ll wait. On that final day you’ll get a text/call, follow that text/call immediately.
If you don’t receive the text or call, once the period specified in the original email is over, you can still go directly to apple.com/recover. Follow the instructions to regain access to your Apple Account.
During the wait period make sure you are also following How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple Account password - Apple Support “If you submitted your account recovery request with iforgot.apple.com through your device's browser, you should avoid using that device during this period. Using that device might cancel account recovery.
To avoid delays, turn off other devices that are signed in with your Apple ID until account recovery is complete. "