Why are you 'forced to' ?? My understanding is that at the end of the 5-year re-issuance period, the CAA will send you an EASA license instead of the current JAR/JAA one. Am I missing something ??
Yep......
When your current JAA licence expires you will have to apply for a Part FCL licence. This will require an SRG1104, SRG1199 and certified copies of your ratings revalidation page and medical.
If you are sitting back and expecting one to just turn up in the post you are going to be in for a bit of a surprise.......
Most people are now preempting the expiry and applying or are reaching the expiry now and thus are going through the hoops to renew and convert. I had to do mine in January. Its actually not as much of a pain as it sounds. You either send the originals or find the Head of Training of an ATO to certify the documents.
It takes a few months at the current rate to get the new licence through so its wise to do it sooner than later. You have nothing to lose as the Part FCL is non expiring.