I have recently been told by the FAA that I will have to go through the verification process before I ttend at Orlando's FSDO to have my existing FAA restricted private certificate (issued on the back of my Canadian glider pilot license) amended to reflect PPL(A) privileges (which I did not have in Canada at the time I originally obtained the FAA certificate).
Seems like rather a waste of time, frankly, and I don't see how this will do anything to enhance US national security. However, realizing that the restricted certificate is a privilege, not a right, I'm just going to go along with their requirements and make the best of it.
Like you say, FFF, the USA has one of the better aviation regulatory schemes (though not quite as good as we have it here in Canada).
MLS-12D