Hi,
I'm also on the journey of getting my PPL in the US.
Already got my TSA clearance, which was a breeze actually, the dept's I dealt with could not have been more helpful, maybe because I was already over in Florida helped expedite the process. Once I had picked which flight school I was going to train with, (I did discovery flights with 4 flight schools before deciding on Tailwheels Ect. who are based out at Winter Haven airport (KGIF)
The TSA application was pretty simple, filled in the forms online, arranged to go over to Jet Blue Airline admin offices at Orlando int. airport Jet Blue are registered with the TSA to do the fingerprinting, they did my prints and electronically sent them to the TSA. My TSA clearance then came through within a week.
Then next stop was for my medical, which I had done by a doctor who has offices based in an hangar at Stallion 51 they are at Orlando Gateway Airport Kissimmee (Stallion 51 fly a couple of P51 Mustangs & Harvard T6 warbirds out of there) Doc Busch one of the principles there is a former US Navy Pilot, one hell of a interesting guy and a very professional doctor who made me feel at ease, and the medical was a completed with the minimum of fuss (PS. anyone over on holiday in Orlando, pop over and visit Dr Busch, he is very enthusiastic and loves to meet fellow aviators, he will be happy to show you around the P51 hangar - you can even get to fly one for $3,000 per hour !)
Anyway with all the red tape out of the way, it was time to begin my initial training, When I returned to the UK I did the ground school studies using the Gleim Pilot Training Course, I chose a US study course because it made sense as my training will be in the US it contains all the FAA requirements and rules including the differences in US air space to the UK airspace.
I arrived back in Florida during December and immediately passed my FAA written exam, following that I managed to get in 10 hrs of in air flight training before I came home again after Christmas.
I am booked to go back in mid March for 6 weeks; I have a 3 weeks accelerated course booked at Tailwheels with the same CFI and same 172SP that I have previously flown. Hopefully after my 3 weeks I will be in a position to take my oral exam and check ride and achieve my goal to get my PPL, if I need a bit longer then I have the time scale available to do more before I leave to come home.
Cost wise I am not totally sure what the final bill will come out at, probably around $10,000, But I am fortunate that we own a holiday home and car in Florida, so once we (my wife and myself) have paid for flights, our living expenses are no more than when we are home in UK, in fact they are probably a little cheaper because we don't need to have the central heating on all day, and pay rip off prices for petrol!
Sorry for high jacking your thread, just thought I would join you and tell anyone interested a little of my personal journey of flight training in the USA.
Good Luck with achieving your Goals.