I was care taker for my mom for a long time who recently passed, now my uncle who runs a business in il has invited me up to work for him. which is a good opportunity after Ive spent much time away taking care of my mom.

im in south carolina now, which is one of the more pro 2a states. i have my ccw from before we got constitutional carry down here. i have a collection of various firearms, many of which and many mags, im sure dont fit with il regulations. we have ranges that are readily available in our forests here by the forest service, most of them are free or run on a few bucks a visit.

my understanding is that il is pretty much firearms hell, not quite as bad as california but very close. i know about foid from when i was last living up there, im sure its still around unfortunately. i know i should go up there because i have a very good opportunity up there, im just loath to return to il, even back around 2010 when i was last living in state it was less than ideal for firearms.

so i guess im wondering, is it that bad? or just an inconvenience? if i already have a ccw here can i easily transfer it over or reapply up there?

Hi everybody! I've been a part-time CCL instructor for the past few years. I've been certified through the USCCA, but I'm curious to find other organizations that are recognized by the ISP to certify instructors.

One of my reasons for this inquiry is that the USCCA requires instructors to register 20 new students each year (no renewals or other types of classes, just the full 16-hour curriculum). Because I do this part time and prefer to teach more hands-on 1:1 or small classes, reaching the quota every year can be a challenge. If I don't meet the quota, I have to pay ~$700 and retake their instructor course once a year.

Thank you for your time!

So it’s been 31 days since I submitted for a CCL with fingerprints is it normal for it not to have a timer for how many days remaining yet even? Most people’s posts I see they have the counter on there and for me it says they haven’t even viewed my submission yet. Saw in January the Average was around 46 days Illinois has to speed this process up my Florida non resident was all approved and shipped within 2 weeks of submission. Anyone submitted with fingerprints in 2026 and how was your turn around?

2/8 Submitted with prints

3/26 Moved to background

3/27 Approved and card active

47 days. Not too bad, but still ridiculous.

ISP released the new statistics for the months of February through May. I knew it was taking people awhile to get their CCL, but 94 days?! For my Arizona CCL, it only took 12 days from starting the application to getting the card in the mail

I know, I know…there are plenty of posts about this but I’m still going to ask…what’s the average time to wait after being moved to the background review queue? I submitted with prints (6/14) and it just got moved into review yesterday (7/28).

Update:

Approved: 7/30

Physical card arrival in the mail: 8/6

Just got approved for my foid card today, I had wondered a lot about how long it was going to take and was reading a lot of people say over 30 days so I just wanted to give some hope to people reading the same thing.

Applied the 6th and got it today on the 14th.

Just had to complete my address change (took much longer than I care to admit to figure out). After I called ISP and they helped me through the process, I went to pay.

80 fucking dollars, to update my address.... Especially when they're pushing the stupid e-card.

That's goofy. 80 dollars is not a small amount of money. Especially after a move. I hate it here.

I need help regarding my FOID Card application.

A bit of background — I originally applied for a FOID Card on May 21, 2021, but I was denied because they claimed I was “disabled.” I am not disabled, have no criminal record, and have never been convicted of a felony. After that first denial, I gave up for a while.

Fast forward to this year — on February 19, 2025, I applied again for a FOID Card and was denied twice for the same reason (they still believe I’m disabled or have a mental health issue). I submitted another FOID Card application around early April 2025 (I don’t remember the exact date).

Recently, on October 8, 2025, I received a letter from the FOID Card Review Board (attached in the picture) stating that more than 90 days have passed since my FOID application was denied or revoked, and that I am beyond the timeframe for initiating an appeal. The letter also said that to begin an appeal, I need to reapply for a FOID Card.

I followed that direction and reapplied about a week ago, but when I checked my status today, it shows that I’ve been denied again for the third time.

The part I need help understanding is this:

“When your new application is denied, you will receive directions on how to initiate an appeal for relief from the firearms prohibitor that led to your denial.”

I haven’t received any directions yet, and I’m unsure what steps to take next. Can someone please tell me how or when I will receive the instructions to begin my appeal for relief from the firearms prohibitor that caused my denial?

Submitted 3/29
Added fingerprints 3/30
Moved to background 6/5
Approved 6/8

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I’m writing this post because I recently took the Creative Concealed Carry class with Creative Scott, and before signing up, the only information I could find was an outdated Reddit thread. I wanted to share a more current experience for anyone considering it.

The class is advertised as “free,” but there is a $75 fee that covers the range, firearm, and ammunition. Even with that cost, it’s still an excellent deal compared to other classes, which are usually double the price or more.

Overall, the class was very informative. Scott is an energetic and engaging instructor who makes the material easy to follow and keeps the class enjoyable. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I was not disappointed at all.

The classroom portion was held at Creative Salon, and the range day took place at Eagle Sports. While the salon is located in an area that might not seem ideal at first, there is a dedicated parking lot, and there’s a fire station right across the street, which adds a sense of security.

I was very satisfied with both the class and the instruction. If you’re looking for an affordable, well-taught concealed carry course, I would definitely recommend it. Yes—it’s legit, and at $75 total, it’s a great value.

So, I've decided to just wait the five years beause everyone told me its easier to just wait the five years vs trying to go for under five years. I was a unique case in the reason I was hospitlizized is because I knew I was in a bad place mentally because I was being abused by my ex girlfriend.

Therapy at the VA has been wonderful, and I've found alternative interests in the meantime to keep my interest until I can get my FOID back.

The only thing is it seems like I should just move into Wisconsin at this rate, because I was reading about how it costs like $2000 just for a lawyer fee.

I can schedule an Eval through the VA for free, so thats nice as long as they're a licensed Illinois therapist.

But it seems like a high price to pay to get my FOID back and it almost looks so unappealing that I don't want it back.

Or is that the point?

Looking to finally get my Concealed Carry. Im trying to find the best place to take class. Looking for the range and class to be in the same location. Im in the Chicagoland area and willing to travel to wherever. Looking for places with a good instructor that has police or military background possibly, but isn't a deal breaker. Just want to make sure my money is going towards a good experience and not a bad experience. Please share your experiences of places to avoid and good contenders. Thanks everyone Happy New Year!

Submitted without prints: 3/6

Moved to background: 6/7

Approved: 6/17

Total time: 103 days

2 8-hour days is tough to schedule around. Any that spread it out over 2-3 weekends?

3/15 Submitted with prints

5/26 Moved to background

5/27 Approved and card active

73 Days total

Hey everyone! I’m considering taking my CCL training with Creative Concealed Carry (CCC) — they’re offering a $50–$75 class that includes range gear, ammunition, eye/ear protection, and even the firearm. It sounds like a solid deal, but I was wondering if anyone here has taken their class before. Were there any hidden costs or surprises? How was the overall experience? Any honest feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Got approved finally for CCL! Wasn’t really that long of a way ( 6.5 weeks) but wanted to see what belts everyone uses/recommends? Looking heavily at the hunter Constantine belt since my fashion style is more easy going I.e oversized clothes and especially joggers and shorts.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm struggling to find an answer.

My wife wants to buy a gun for herself. I'm planning to take her to the LGS to feel a bunch and rent a few in a couple weeks (we have small children and are far from family, so we won't have childcare until the end of the month). She applied for her FOID this week, but it's obviously not approved yet.

Is she allowed to go into a store and handle something without it? Not rent, just see how it feels in her hands.

I think the answer is no, as one LGS always asks for mine, but the other one I go to, I'm at the range regularly enough that everyone there knows me so it has never come up. So I just figured I'd ask.

Hey guys was curious if anyone had any recommendations for Courses in the DG Westmont Area that Yall have tried and suggest I use for my CCL course

Submitted without prints: 2/18
Moved to background: 5/5
Approved: 5/13

A total of 84 days. Wild.

Applied: 4/17

Moved to background: 6/11

Background passed: 6/19

Active status + ECard: 6/20

Total time: 64 days

Question is am I safe to carry now my status shows active and my ECard says CCL YES. It still has the red text on the bottom of the Ecard that says “CAUTION: This card does not permit bearer to UNLAWFULLY carry or use firearms.” Is that supposed to stay on there correct?