<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">So you see a holder of an FAA IR is automatically exempt from taking ground exams, training course and flight test....ie. they get the IMC issued straight away.....This comes direct from the CAA...</font>
All true, englishal, but that's not what Julian suggested.
The CAA will
issue you an IMC rating for a PPL based on an FAA PPL IR. But you can't roll up with an FAA/IR, jump into a G-reg aircraft and fly IFR in controlled airspace. You have to have a UK licence issued if you want to exercise the privileges of the IMC rating.
By contrast, you
can roll up with an FAA PPL jump into a G-reg aircraft and fly it VFR. No conversion/issue/validation/paperwork required.