200hrs is for LICENCE ISSUE
150hrs to start the CPL modular course
'applicant for' licence/rating is when having done/met requirements
pre-requisites for a course - conditions to be met before starting it.
While you CAN attach FAA IR on validation of foreign licence, it's still FAA licence, albeit foreign based. NOT the other way, as you've been told by many and if you read the regs of which you supposedly passed the ATPLs (if not only cramming ABCD choices), or even simply used search button on that downloadable pdf doc.
If you have nearly 160hrs, 25hrs course, then the full IR minus the basic instrument training credit from doing CPL module, plenty hours for licence issue, 200+
THIS took me 2mins to find online incl opening file and copy/paste (incomplete extract direct from reg)
2. Before commencing a CPL(A) modular course an applicant shall be the holder of a PPL(A) issued in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention.
3. Before commencing the flight training the applicant shall:
(a) have completed 150 hours flight time;
EXPERIENCE
12. The applicant for a CPL(A) shall have completed at least 200 hours flight time, including at least:
(a) 100 hours as PIC, of which 20 hours of cross-country flight as PIC, which shall include a VFR cross-country flight of at least 540 km (300 NM), in the course of which full stop landings at two aerodromes different from the aerodrome of departure shall be made;
If you must avoid extra flight test, well, it's bit of Catch-22 if the ATO won't let you start IR course, as the Appendix 6 A 2 talks only about applicant for course having PPL(A) or CPL(A), not the ICAO/Chicago convention licence, as it is for the CPL (plus the exam credits).
Ask the ATO you would do your training at, to clarify if they let you do the IR course where at the end you'd be able to apply for CPL after flight test/module, reaching 200TT and then doing the flight test for IR.
Check AMC doc for more details, make a call.
Last edited by MartinCh; 16th Mar 2015 at 18:00.