Yes. You can apply for jobs while your expungement or sealing petition is under review. However, until the court officially grants your petition, your DUI record will still appear on background checks.
In Illinois, a DUI arrest typically triggers an immediate driver’s license suspension—even before your court case is resolved. This is called a Statutory Summary Suspension and occurs if you either fail a chemical test (registering a BAC of 0.08 or higher) or refuse to take one.
In Illinois, the terms DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) are often used interchangeably, but under state law, DUI is the official legal term. A DUI in Illinois covers driving or being in physical control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or any intoxicating substance, including prescription medication.
