Initial issue in a sim
I have no idea what the actual regs are but I can tell you what I saw.
I know that Tiger Airways Australia was doing initial issue's of instrument ratings in the sim an Ansett. The people being rated were pilots on 457 visa's from Singapore and Australians who had been away for 10 plus years and were now needing to do an initial issue of MECIR to take up pilot positions with Tiger Australia.
I know the CP was in the sim at the time and had powers of initial issue.