weis,
judging that you want the JAA licences, i'm assuming that your ultimate goal is to work in europe. so in your situation, getting all the associated FAA crap is a waste of time. get your JAA licences (either in the states, but preferably in europe) plus an instructors rating straight away.
going to the states for 2 years on a J1 visa will give you just as many hours as you can gain back home, however you are much more likely to build up contacts for the shiny RHS whilst instructing in the UK rather than slogging round florida with some fat septics.