On the first day that young undocumented immigrants could apply for work permits under a historic Obama administration program, many were eager just for information.

Thousands of people crammed into informational workshops around the country, including hundreds at a Catholic Charities CYO seminar in San Francisco.

Young immigrants started lining up for information sessions there at 5:30 a.m., and more than 100 were turned away.

"It definitely overwhelmed us," said Christopher Martinez, refugee and immigrant services director for Catholic Charities CYO, part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

The Obama administration's deferred action rules benefit undocumented immigrants 30 years old and younger who came to the United States as children before they turned 16. The new policy defers deportations for two years and allows those who qualify to obtain a temporary work permit. Applicants could renew their permits every two years.

An estimated 1.7 million people in the United States could benefit, making it the most expansive immigration relief program in 26 years. An estimated 65,000 of the potential applicants live in the Bay Area.

The program has a significant impact partly because a work permit makes a person eligible for a driver's license, Social Security number, professional licenses and financial aid for college.

Emmanuel Valenciano, a Daly City resident who came to the United States from the Philippines when he was 13, simply wants to pay for his own tuition at San Francisco State University. Valenciano, 24, said that he has relied on his parents and his sister, a citizen, to pay because he couldn't get a job. He didn't buy books for certain classes to keep costs down.

And while an undocumented child can legally attend public school, operating in an adult world requires legitimacy. Valenciano said a nursing program he wanted to apply for required a Social Security number.

"The older I got, the more afraid I was getting," said Valenciano, who plans to apply for the program in the next few days.

The narrow scope of the program, some complicated rules and the possibility that a change in presidency could lead to a dismantling of the program have all put pressure on young immigrants to move fast.

But those conditions have also created confusion.

Many believed Wednesday was the deadline - not the beginning - of the application period, said Martinez, the Catholic Charities immigration director.

Some believe the program requires a college degree, when in fact GEDs, honorable discharges from the armed forces and school enrollment are also acceptable.

Many can fill out paperwork themselves, but advocates warn that scammers have been aggressively selling their purported services to immigrants. Some are charging $1,000 to $2,500 per applicant.

"Our biggest concern out there is catching people before they end up in the wrong hands," said Reena Arya, staff attorney for the Asian Law Caucus, who advises all potential applicants to see a valid attorney or nonprofit.

The durability of Obama's directive is under debate.

Advocates of the program say it's tenuous, and they argue for more expansive immigration efforts that would create a path for permanent legal residency for these immigrants.

However, proponents of tighter immigration controls, like the Washington D.C.-based Center for Immigration Studies, say Obama's program is unconstitutional because only Congress can implement an immigration program.

If Mitt Romney were to win the presidential election in November, he could stop the program or halt renewals, said Mark Krikorian, the think tank's executive director. But he says those who apply won't ever lose their privileges. It's part of why Krikorian argues that Congress must stop the program.

"This is a permanent amnesty," he said. "If Obama gets away with it, I would expect a number of other amnesty programs."

How to apply

-- The required documents for the application, which requires a $465 fee, can be downloaded from go.usa.gov/7gB. They must be submitted by mail.

-- Additional resources, including legitimate attorneys and community groups, can be found at weownthedream.org.
