Immigration bill would set an 8-year path to residency

WASHINGTON (AP) - A newspaper is reporting says that a draft of an immigration bill prepared by the White House lays out an eight-year process for illegal immigrants to become legal permanent residents.

In a story published online Saturday, USA Today says the draft bill would allow illegal immigrants in the U.S. to apply for newly created "Lawful Prospective Immigrant" visas. The bill would also provide more security funding and require that businesses verify the immigration status of new hires within four years.

President Barack Obama has said he will send an immigration bill to Congress if lawmakers do not move on the issue "in a timely fashion."

A White House spokesman, Clark Stevens, says in a statement Saturday that a final immigration bill has not been prepared but that progress is being made.

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