Many young illegal immigrants in New Jersey, and across the country, are preparing to file paperwork today for the first day of a new federal program that allows those who meet certain requirements to avoid deportation and obtain a U.S. work permit.

The Obama administration announced in June it would stop deporting many illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.

Applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program can be downloaded from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

Applicants must be 30 or younger, pay a $465 fee, and provide proof of identity and eligibility.

They must prove they arrived in the U.S. before they turned 16, have been here at least five years, and are in school, graduated or served in the military.

The government renewed warnings that the process wouldn't lead to citizenship or give them permission to travel internationally.

Critics of the program have called the policy backdoor amnesty and said they worry about fraud.

Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Process

AP wire services contributed to this report.