Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Tuesday that his office will begin issuing Temporary Visitor Driver’s Licenses (TVDL) to illegal immigrants beginning in December.
This first phase of the TVDL program will begin as a pilot program where undocumented applicants can get their TVDL by appointment only at just four Secretary of State Driver’s Services facilities. Walk in applicants will not be allowed.
The four locations for the TVDL pilot program will be Chicago West, 5301 W. Lexington Ave., Springfield, 2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy. Chicago North, 5401 N. Elston Ave. and Bloomington, 1510 W. Market St.
The program will expand to all 25 state Driver’s Services locations in January. Applicants will still need to make an appointment to begin the application process.
The by Governor Pat Quinn, and will allow an estimated 250,000 illegal immigrants residing in Illinois to obtain licenses. The law will TVDL holders to carry proper automobile insurance. Illinois joins New Mexico and Washington State as the third state to allow illegals to obtain a driver’s license.
“As soon as the General Assembly passed and the governor signed this legislation into law, my office began planning to implement the program in a way that improves road safety, highlights customer service and underscores the importance of license integrity and security,” White said. “Through driver license testing, verification of identity, and maintenance of accurate motorist records, this law will improve road safety and guarantee that more drivers will purchase and maintain auto insurance.”
The visual difference between a traditional Illinois state driver’s license and a TVDL is that the driver’s license has a red border along the top, while a TVDL will have a purple border and is marked: “Not valid for identification.”
TVDL applicants must provide various documents and information to obtain the license including a valid passport from the applicant’s native country or a Consular Identification Card from an approved country, proof of name, written signature, date of birth, current address and proof of 12 months of consecutive residency in Illinois.
Illegal immigrants interested in making an appointment for a TVDL can call 855-236-1155 or by visiting .
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