Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced at a bill signing with Gov. Pat Quinn on Jan. 28 that undocumented immigrants will be able to apply for temporary visitor driver’s licenses in approximately 10 months, according to a press release.

The 10 month period was created by legislation to efficiently implement the program.

“We will ensure that the TVDL is a safe and secure document. This law will improve road safety and will guarantee that more drivers will purchase and maintain auto insurance,” White said.

While a standard driver’s license may be used for both identification and driving purposes, the TVDL may only be used for driving purposes and is invalid without auto insurance. Additionally, the TVDL includes a purple border on the top of the license, as opposed to the red border on a standard license.

To obtain a TVDL, applicants must make an appointment in advance to attend a specifically designated Drivers Services facility. Applicants must prove that they have been a resident of Illinois for at least one year and provide documentation that includes a letter of ineligibility for a social security card, proof of date of birth, proof of signature, two forms of documentation proving one year of residency and a valid passport from their native country or a Consular Identification card. A photo will also be taken of the application, which will be run through the state’s facial recognition system.

Once the application process is completed, the applicant will receive their license at a future date.

“At its core, this law will make the roads safer for everyone,” White said.