Members of Congress estimate that 400,000 more illegal aliens would apply if the application period were extended.

The fees would be part of a program, under which illegal aliens can apply for legal status, or amnesty, that is to start in seven weeks.

Nationally, as of last Thursday, 1,335,915 aliens had applied for amnesty.

Nationally, more than 800,000 illegal aliens have applied for legal status.

More than a million aliens have applied under the program for seasonal agriculture workers, which was originally expected to accommodate perhaps 350,000 people.

Also, aliens seeking asylum in the United States generally must apply within one year of their arrival.

The visa validity usually indicates when the alien can apply for entry to the country.

More than 1.3 million illegal aliens applied to become legal immigrants under a one-time amnesty for farm workers.

The number includes 240,000 seasonal agricultural workers and 904,000 aliens applying under the measure's provision for general amnesty.

He said that the major reason illegal aliens had not applied was their fear of the immigration service.