Moving to Illinois: what is different for newcomers

Illinois does a few things its own way, and knowing them early saves you a second trip. The steps every newcomer takes are in our first 30 days checklist.

Your license comes from the Secretary of State. The Office of the Secretary of State issues driver’s licenses and state IDs at 140 offices it calls DMVs (Illinois SOS). If you move here from another country and want to drive, you have 90 days to apply, and you take vision, written and road exams (Illinois SOS). Since July 1, 2024, people who were eligible for the former Temporary Visitor Driver’s License can apply for a standard license instead (Illinois SOS). Documents and tests: Illinois driver’s license and ID.

A state income tax, and a first return on paper. Illinois residents must file Form IL-1040 if, for example, they were required to file a federal return, and part-year residents add Schedule NR (Illinois Department of Revenue). If your Illinois license or ID is recent, the department says to file your first Illinois return on paper (Illinois Department of Revenue). How this fits with federal taxes: state and local taxes.

Welcoming Centers for immigrants. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) runs the Illinois Welcoming Center program: one-stop centers that help immigrants and refugees reach state and community services, in a linguistically and culturally sensitive way (IDHS). IDHS describes them as free support services for all immigrants and refugees in Illinois, regardless of status (IDHS). Its Office of Welcoming Centers for Refugee and Immigrant Services answers at 312-793-7120 (IDHS). Legal questions: free immigration legal help.

Renting: no lockouts. The Illinois Attorney General’s fact sheet says a landlord must file a lawsuit to evict you and can’t force you out by turning off your utilities or changing the locks; only a sheriff can physically evict you (Illinois Attorney General). It adds that Illinois has no state rent control law, so check with your city or county (Illinois Attorney General). More: tenant rights.

Cold winters and tornadoes. “Illinois is famous for its cold winters,” says Ready Illinois, the state’s preparedness site, which suggests warming centers and heated public places in extreme cold (Ready Illinois). Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven (Ready.gov). Tornadoes can strike cities such as Chicago (Ready Illinois), and the Midwest has a greater tornado risk (Ready.gov). Ready Illinois says communities with outdoor sirens test them on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m., and its tornado fact sheet comes in Arabic, Chinese, Polish, Spanish and Tagalog (Ready Illinois). Make your plan: emergency preparedness.