Which approaches can a CFII count for currency?

The correct choice highlights that a CFII can count approaches in actual Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) until the Final Approach Fix (FAF) toward their currency requirements. This is because practicing approaches in actual IMC is an integral part of maintaining proficiency and ensuring that the instructor is capable of handling real-world conditions.

Approaching under actual IMC provides a realistic environment where the use of instrumentation is critical, aiding in reinforcing skills necessary for teaching students about instrument operations in challenging conditions. By counting these approaches until the FAF, it ensures that the CFII is engaging in procedures where decision-making is vital, even though a full landing may not have been completed.

The other options, while they may involve instrument procedures, do not fulfill the same rigorous criteria for currency in the context of a CFII's requirements. Visual approaches and simulated approaches may contribute to overall skill but do not carry the weight of actual instrument experience. As a result, actual IMC approaches up to the FAF are the most significant for a CFII's ongoing proficiency and regulatory currency.