2WOMW
FAA /IR cost me about USD 4.5K in Feb this year: 2 weeks at NAC, 2weeks hotel ;muito cerveja, return flights etc.
But I already had IMC plus about 60 hrs IMC in UK. (did FAA writtens with Tom Hughston in Norwich before I went to Fl.)
They'll give you some credit for UK IMC hours but FAA definition of cross country is 50NM IIRC, not just a quick hop roend the local area.
Found it quite difficult but rewarding. Prob 40 some of the worst feb weather for years so most of my 27 hrs were in IMC.
As for converting to JAA : rules have just been relaxed in that you don't have to do the whole ATPL exams but there's still quite a bit of distance learning, groundschool and further flying training:
I worked out it would cost me another GBP 7K to do it, so prob won't bother.
Full details on JAA website somewhere they tell me but I've never found it.Safe flying.