Overview
- Illinois is issuing standard licenses to undocumented residents under HB 2882, with a $30 fee, a 90‑day temporary permit at issuance, and permanent cards typically mailed in about 15 business days.
- Undocumented applicants in Illinois must show 12 months of in‑state residency, present a valid ID such as a foreign passport or consular card, prove ineligibility for a Social Security number, and pass vision, knowledge, and road tests.
- Texas continues to deny licenses to undocumented immigrants, while eligible noncitizens must clear Department of Homeland Security status verification, pay current fees such as $33 for most adults, and receive a temporary document until the card arrives in two to three weeks.
- Texas applicants must provide identity and Texas residency proof, a Social Security number, vehicle registration and insurance when applicable, biometric data and a photo, complete required education modules such as Impact Texas Driver for the road test, and pass vision, written, and driving exams.
- Texas enforcement remains strict, with SB1551 increasing penalties for driving without or failing to present a license to a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $500 and possible arrests, and recent DPS actions limiting commercial license eligibility for refugees, asylees, and some DACA holders.