Ninety-eight percent of 12 million undocumented workers in the United States would apply for legal residency if allowed by law, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The poll, published by the National Immigration Forum, found 94 percent of those polled would go to a government office to seek legal status if Congress passed a law allowing it.

The U.S. Senate has been arguing immigration reform that could allow illegal immigrants to acquire citizenship.

The poll also found 96 percent would be subject to a background check; 91 percent would pay 1,000 dollars in fine; 70 percent would pay back taxes; and 87 percent would learn English.

The poll conducted 233 personal interviews from Oct. 11 to Oct. 15, 2005, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 6.5 percentage points.

Source: Xinhua