Regarding poster Neil's interesting account but now out-of-date
information of how he obtained a "Restricted" FAA Pilot Certificate
based upon his foreign pilot license / experience, here is the latest
from the FAA website at www.faa.gov

Note: Verification of your Foreign License should be accomplished at
least 90 days before visiting your FAA FSDO. Since 9/11/2001, you
willl need to call the FSDO to make an appointment with the FAA
Inspector who manages pilot certification.


From the FAA Website: Airmen Certification: Verify the Authenticity
of a Foreign License, Rating, or Medical Certification

Foreign License
If you are applying for a certificate issued on the basis of a foreign
license under the provisions of:

14 CFR Part 61, Section 61.75
special purpose pilot authorizations under Section 61.77
using a pilot certificate issued under Section 61.75 to apply for a
commercial pilot certificate under Section 61.123 (h)
applying for an airline transport pilot certificate issued under
Section 61.153 (d) (3)
applying for a certificate issued on the basis of a foreign license
under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 63, Sections 63.23 and 63.42
Then you must have the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that issued
those certificates verify the validity and currency of the foreign
license and medical certificate or endorsement before you apply for an
FAA certificate or authorization.

Send Us Your Information
You can provide the required information using the optional
Verification of Authenticity of Foreign License, Rating, and Medical
Certification (PDF) form.

You can send us the form and the preferred documents two ways:

By Mail
Federal Aviation Administration
Airmen Certification Branch, AFS-760
P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0082
By Fax
(405) 954-9922

NOTE: If your application and documentation for foreign verification
is received with missing and/or illegible information, you will be
notified and required to resend your application and all required
documentation by mail.

You can't send the pre-application documents electronically.

Rating or Medical Certificate
A person who is applying for a U.S. rating or medical certificate on
the basis of a foreign license must apply for that certificate at
least 90 days before arriving at the designated FAA FSDO where the
applicant intends to receive the U.S. certificate. This initial
application step is the responsibility of the applicant.

The information you submit to the Airmen Certification Branch must
include your:

name and date of birth

address where you wish to have the verification of the authenticity
letter mailed

certificate number and ratings on the foreign license

country of issuance of your foreign license

location of the FAA Flight Standards District Office where you intend
to apply for your U.S. certificate

statement that your foreign license is not under an order of
suspension or revocation

Note: The Airmen Certification Branch would prefer to have a copy of
the foreign license and medical certificate or endorsement included
with all requests for verification of authenticity of the foreign
license.

When we receive verification from the CAA, you will receive written
notification that we forwarded a copy to the Flight Standards District
Office (FSDO) you designated in your request. The verification is
valid for 6 calendar months. You may apply for a U.S. certificate at
the designated FSDO during that period.

You can mail the information to:

Federal Aviation Administration
Airmen Certification Branch, AFS-760
P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0082


Additional Requirements for United Kingdom and Australia Applicants:

In addition to the procedures stated under Verification of
Authenticity of Foreign license, Rating and Medical Certification
above, airmen from the United Kingdom or Australia must contact their
respective CAA to complete additional forms that are required PRIOR to
providing the requested information to the Airmen Certification
Branch. We have provided a link to each CAA for your convenience: UK
CAA website, Australia CAA website.

Note
You must send the Verification of Authenticity of Foreign license,
Rating and Medical Certification form directly to FAA's Airmen
Certification Branch, not to the UK or Australia CAA.
You must send the information required by the UK or Australia CAA
directly to the UK or Australia CAA and not to FAA's Airmen
Certification Branch.