In a scene that bespoke their worries in the wake of the Jan. 12 earthquake, hundreds of Haitians swarmed around a few overwhelmed U.S. officials at the Four Winds Plaza Saturday, looking for answers about their immigrant status.

Last week, after the scale of the earthquake devastation in Haiti became clear, the U.S. government announced a short-term reprieve for undocumented Haitians living in the U.S., including the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In Saturday’s meeting in a makeshift warehouse in the mall, officers of the U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explained the terms and requirements for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which will allow undocumented Haitians to live and work in the U.S. for at least six months without fear of being deported, provided they follow the rules and obey the law.

“TPS is a benefit offered by Immigration to people who are going through hardships,” said Lorenlie Conner, the USCIS officer who led Saturday’s gathering. USCIS is under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security.

Through a very patient Creole translator, Hans Oriol, Conner explained the process of applying for TPS, starting with the basic requirement that all applicants prove that they are Haitian nationals who arrived in the territory before the earthquake struck.

The TPS status does not lead to permanent residence or citizenship, she said. Haitians who had already applied for naturalization will have their cases expedited so they can bring their families here from Haiti.

While on TPS, undocumented immigrants can work, travel and apply for immigration benefits just like they were in the process of naturalization. They may also travel to the mainland, Connor said. Asylum status or previous deportations will not affect the TPS.

“If you have a criminal record, if you have been arrested for several misdemeanors or convicted of a felony, that would affect your application to TPS,” Connor said.

“A word to the wise,” she said. “If your hands are clean, keep them clean.”

Even before her message was translated, laughter and applause erupted from the 200 some people who crammed the warehouse.

Laughter, though more nervous this time, rose again when Leslie Meeker, the USCIS field office director, reminded the crowd that once the six-month TPS period expires, they would have to return to Haiti.

A collective grumble and throwing up of arms momentarily unsettled the room. But once over the shock of the fine print, the Haitians got their turn to ask questions.

Slowly flowing forward to surround Oriol, the crowd soon became too loud for anything constructive, so the organizers moved everyone outside where even more people were milling about, waiting for information.

Connor, Meeker, Oriol and few others did their best to answer individual questions as they were swallowed in a sea of people wanting more information for them and their loved ones.

Erika Campbell, a volunteer who has been helping organize relief efforts all over St. Thomas since the quake hit, tried to carry a box of TPS applications outside to pass out. People quickly lightened her load.

“It was like I was standing in downtown Port-au-Prince with a case of water,” she said moments later. “I was mobbed.”

Organizers said at first they were worried that no one would show up. By 4 p.m. Saturday they were struggling to keep up with questions. People pressed in from all sides, five or six deep, with more waiting on the fringe. Urgent looks gripped many faces.

Delegate Donna Christiansen arrived as the last of the crowd flowed outside. She said she just returned from Washington, D.C., where she said she and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus have been lobbying hard for more aid to Haiti.

“We’ve been pushing to get TPS for years, even before this happened,” she said, shuffling toe to heel in the crowd as it squeezed outside.

Christiansen said she has been visiting Haiti and learning about the struggle of Haitians since 1997 and has been touched by the recent tragedy. She said she will continue advocating for Haitians on Capitol Hill.

“We want to make sure that the U.S. stays with this for the long haul,” she said. “But Haitians should have no fear that we are there to occupy. We are there to help.”

Haitians have six months — until July 22 — to apply for TPS.

Applications are available online at uscis.gov. Paper applications are available at ICS offices on St. Thomas at 8000 Nisky Center and on St. Croix at the Sunny Isles shopping center.

Special informational sessions will be held at both offices at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.