Summary
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Grace Gill, and Harrison Kitson are joined by Tahmina Watson, founder of Watson Immigration Law, a Seattle-based law firm that exclusively practices in the area of United State immigration and naturalization law. Throughout the episode, Tahmina discusses the challenges many immigrant entrepreneurs face when trying to obtain their visas, the importance of advocacy, the power of making someone else’s dreams come true, her latest book The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders, and much more!
Show Notes
(0:51) Introducing Tahmina Watson
(2:51) Immigration Challenges for Entrepreneurs
(10:05) Skills-Based Immigration Policies
(13:48) Catering to a Diverse Population
(15:46) Tahmina’s Inspiration for Writing a Book
(20:58) The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders
(25:33) The Power of Good Karma
(30:10) Advice to the Younger Self and Closing Thoughts
Links
The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders
Quotes
“Immigrants do get the job done, but entrepreneurship is also a throughline in the American history. And so if we are looking to have an America that is going to be prosperous for our children [and] our grandchildren, we need to keep the eye on the ball of making sure that the next generation of entrepreneurs come to the U.S. And this is where we have the next Google and the next thing that’s going to change the world.” – Tahmina Watson, (7:15)
“One of the things that is so important for me to explain so that people understand it is that when businesses cannot fill their positions, who is the loser? It’s the American consumer that is the loser. It’s the American tax purse that is the loser. You know, we are not helping ourselves by not thinking about the various tools that can solve our economic problems, and immigration is one of those tools.” – Tahmina Watson, (9:33)
“I love being here. America’s given me my home. My children are here, and I want a country that my children can prosper in and their children can prosper in. And I think we need to use our voices with every tool possible—particularly immigration—to make that happen.” – Tahmina Watson, (13:27)
Immigration Reform and the Power of a Diverse Population with Tahmina Watson
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Jeff Amerine, Grace Gill, and Harrison Kitson are joined by Tahmina Watson, founder of Watson Immigration Law, a Seattle-based law firm that exclusively practices in the area of United State immigration and naturalization law. Throughout the episode, Tahmina discusses the challenges many immigrant entrepreneurs face when trying to obtain their visas, the importance of advocacy, the power of making someone else’s dreams come true, her latest book The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders, and much more!
Watson Immigration Law
Originally practicing as a barrister in the United Kingdom, Tahmina began practicing U.S. immigration and naturalization law as a partner with White & Watson in Seattle, Washington in 2006. Without realizing she was primarily working with a niche group of clients, Tahmina helped several entrepreneurs who were looking to obtain visas through their startups. This led her down a path of advocacy and important questions, such as, why don’t we have visas for startups?
In the United States, many immigrants seek visas through the H-1B or O visas, but these don’t often help modern entrepreneurs. For example, H-1B visas require the applicant to have a degree and an employer. But, applicants only have a ten-percent chance of approval, as 780,000 people applied last year, while only 85,000 applications were approved. Understanding this, Tahmina began doing advocacy work, eventually volunteering with Hillary Clinton’s immigration working group and fighting for policy changes that would allow for startup visas.
“Immigrants do get the job done, but entrepreneurship is also a throughline in the American history. And so if we are looking to have an America that is going to be prosperous for our children [and] our grandchildren, we need to keep the eye on the ball of making sure that the next generation of entrepreneurs come to the U.S. And this is where we have the next Google and the next thing that’s going to change the world.” – Tahmina Watson, (7:15)
While the end goal of startup visas has not yet been reached, Tahmina and her firm provide immigrant entrepreneurs with the resources they need to obtain visas and continue pushing America forward through startup innovation. In her latest book The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders, Tahmina helps entrepreneurs learn how they can have their own company sponsor their visa.
“One of the things that is so important for me to explain so that people understand it is that when businesses cannot fill their positions, who is the loser? It’s the American consumer that is the loser. It’s the American tax purse that is the loser. You know, we are not helping ourselves by not thinking about the various tools that can solve our economic problems, and immigration is one of those tools.” – Tahmina Watson, (9:33)
Connect with Us!
Do you consider yourself a startup junkie? Join the conversation by following us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! Startup Junkie wants to come alongside these entrepreneurs every step of the way. Want to learn more about our services?
English 
Spanish 
Korean