Hi Taggs
If you do a JAA PPL it will be recognised in the states but having said that I would try and do all my training in the states cause its cheaper and the weather is better. You can convert any ICAO PPL into a JAA PPL as long as you have 100 hrs. I know this because this is what I am trying to do at the moment. Im doing all my practicle training here in SA (SA CPL/multi IR) and then am going over to the UK to convert to JAA. Save yourself some bucks.