Although immigration issues can sometimes hinder those who are attempting to better their lives by obtaining a professional license, the state of Illinois has taken steps to stop that from happening. A new law recently signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker serves two purposes. First, undocumented immigrants may keep a professional license earned and issued in the state of Illinois. This is true regardless of immigration status. Second, reasonable accommodations must be made for applicants whose primary language is not English when those applicants take professional licensing exams in the state.
Under HB 5457, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may not suspend, revoke, or take other actions against a professional license holder based solely on real or perceived immigration status. While there are certain qualification requirements, proponents of the bill believe many IL communities can benefit from behavioral health professionals who can communicate in different languages. If you have questions regarding HB 5457 or have other immigration questions or needs, an experienced Lombard, IL immigration lawyer from Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can assist you.