Salvadorans Are Encouraged to Apply for INS Program

The Immigration and Naturalization Service on Wednesday urged Salvadorans living in the United States to take advantage of a new program that allows eligible Salvadorans to live and work legally in this country for 18 months.

The program, called Temporary Protected Status, went into effect Wednesday. It was part of landmark immigration legislation signed by President Bush late last year.

“To those people who are reluctant to come forward, I can only say they are missing an excellent opportunity,” Robert Moschorak, INS Los Angeles district director, said in a meeting with reporters.

Some Salvadorans have expressed doubts about the program because, barring an extension, it ends in 18 months, and those people who have signed up risk deportation at that time.

But advantages--namely, legal status and legitimate work authorization--far outweigh any such concerns, Moschorak said.

Salvadorans who have lived continuously in the United States since Sept. 19, 1990, and who have not been convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors are eligible.

To apply, Salvadorans must fill out forms that are available at the main INS office downtown, at 300 N. Los Angeles St., 1st floor, or at any of a variety of volunteer social-service agencies that work with immigrants. The forms can be turned in to the agencies or mailed to the INS, P.O. Box 4000, Bell, 90201.

The INS will review the forms and applicants will be contacted for an appointment, at which time they must prove their Salvadoran citizenship and show they’ve been in the United States since before Sept. 19.

The interviews will be conducted at an INS office dedicated to the safe-haven program, located at 9858 Artesia Blvd. in Bellflower, or at designated offices of several social-service agencies.

Each Salvadoran who applies for protected status must pay a fee of $75; the work authorization--in the form of a plastic card with a picture ID--costs an additional $35, though that fee will be waived for people under 14 and over 65.

Salvadorans must apply between now and July 1.

For information on the temporary protected status or other programs, call the INS at (213) 894-2119.