If anybody could suggest a school in the LA, SFO, Newark or Chicago area that can do pre check ride preparation and check ride I would be grateful for some contacts.
Not near those places but I know a school in Wichita that will do your prep and checkride in an Apache. They specialise in overseas students and military-civil conversion. They provide food and lodging, pick you up from the airport, lend you a car to get around, and the owner does all the FAA paperwork for you (it is in his interest to make sure it is done right). All you have to do is eat, sleep and fly. The written can also be done there - test center at the airport.