Your First 90 Days: A Relocation Checklist
The practical setup tasks after you arrive, in the order most people need them.
Beatrice Yunck, Real Estate Consultant, Queen Bea Realty Group
Wisconsin license 98118-94 · Illinois license 475.210497 · 4 years in the area
Speaks: English, Po polsku, Deutsch, Español
Getting a Wisconsin driver’s license as a new resident
New Wisconsin residents must get a Wisconsin driver’s license within 60 days.
Source: WCTC Global Education guide
Wisconsin has driver’s license reciprocity with Germany, France, South Korea and Taiwan: the knowledge and skills tests may be waived for a Class D license. Poland, Mexico and Spain are not on the list.
Source: Wisconsin DOT
A license from another US state can be transferred; REAL ID status from another state does not transfer. Commercial drivers have 30 days.
Source: Wisconsin DOT — new residents
Getting an Illinois driver’s license
New Illinois residents must get an Illinois license within 90 days. Holders of a foreign license generally take the written, vision and road tests; visa holders who aren’t eligible for a Social Security number apply for a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL).
Social Security number and bank accounts
Apply for a Social Security number in person at a Social Security office (Form SS-5), with your passport, visa, I-94 and work-authorization documents. The SSA suggests waiting about 10 days after you arrive. Some visa holders can request a number with their visa application. A spouse without work authorization usually can’t get one and uses an ITIN (IRS Form W-7) for taxes instead.
Many banks open accounts with a passport, proof of address and an ITIN or foreign tax ID; requirements vary by bank.
Health insurance through your employer
Most people in the US get health insurance through their employer. Terms to know:
- Premium: what you pay from each paycheck.
- Deductible: what you pay before the plan starts paying.
- Copay or coinsurance: your share of each visit or bill.
- Out-of-pocket maximum: the most you pay in a year.
- Plan types: HMO (a network, with referrals), PPO (more choice, higher cost), or a high-deductible plan with a tax-free health savings account (HSA).
New employees usually have 30 days to enroll; otherwise you wait for the annual open enrollment.
Utilities, winter and hospitals
Utilities: in Southeastern Wisconsin, We Energies supplies most electricity and gas; in Northeastern Illinois, ComEd supplies electricity and Nicor Gas or North Shore Gas supplies gas. Water usually comes from your town’s utility.
Winter: January highs are usually below freezing. Budget for winter tires, boots and higher heating bills, and expect to clear your sidewalk after snowfall — many towns require it.
Hospitals in the corridor include:
- Froedtert Hospital and Children’s Wisconsin (Wauwatosa)
- Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center (Milwaukee)
- Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s (Milwaukee)
- ProHealth Waukesha Memorial (Waukesha)
- Froedtert South (Kenosha)
- Ascension All Saints (Racine)
- Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest (Lake Forest)
- Advocate Condell Medical Center (Libertyville)
Talk to a relocation agent
Tell us about your move and we'll send options that fit your timeline and budget.
Prefer to talk? Call Beatrice or book a 30-minute call.
Includes: First-90-days checklist PDF
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