Dear Curtis Jenny,
I am afraid I'm no expert on the subject; the FAA website will allow you to email an FAA regional office near to the area you a are visiting there. I have found them very helpful in the past, and yes the FAR's do change.
However I can say that for heavier types (in my case it was a B737 300) the FAA required a checkride b4 a type rating was issued. This can be a hassle as many simulator schools want to charge you for allot more than just a checkride (often they spin you a line, saying it can't be done and that you need a full US type rating course - Not so according to the FAA!).
I'm not sure about lighties but I was told that its a checkride on type with a "CFI" b4 the FAA issues the endorsement - and lets face it, no GA outfit is going to let you lose without a check flight anyway.
And yes you may well be dropped down to PPL restricted these days, I was gonna get the restricted CPL when I was there in 1996 but left it a few years and the PPL was all I got - Buggar!
Good luck!
