JR, I know I write too much, but maybe you should read bit more. Especially the regs and FAA official interpretations. He doesn't have to do FAA CPL. He has to have IR from ANYWHERE, VALID, INCLUDING FAA, before doing FAA ATP checkride. Fact. Plus whatever minimum pre-checkride reqs. No point explaining things I explained, as well as Gordy, though from different point of view, if you refuse to accept OFFICIAL information from FAA. Do you have FAA licenses? Did you read relevant FAA regs?