I may have some more good news for you Buff, you may not need a FAA CFII.
For continuous IFR currency you need to do at least the ****,
six approaches (any type), holds, intercept and tracking of a course by naviagtional electronic systems. 61.57 (c)(1)
If you have not done so you have a 6 months grace period where you are not allowed to fly IFR (in a N-reg) as PIC but you can fly VFR under the hood with a safety pilot and make yourself current by meeting the above requirements.
If you have not done anything for 12 months, then you need an IPC with a FAA CFII or examiner.
*** obviously any approaches you fly while operating on the priviliges of another nations' license count towards the FAA currency requirements ***