Tahmina Talks Immigration®

Air date: September 15, 2026  ·  Episode #: 6

In this episode, Tahmina Watson shares recent immigration case successes involving religious worker visas and National Interest Waivers. She also discusses proposed changes to the public charge rules, updates affecting international students, and the nationwide block on the proposed student visa rule.

Tahmina emphasizes the importance of staying informed, preparing thoroughly, a...

Air date: September 8, 2026  ·  Episode #: 5

In this episode, Tahmina Watson discusses important considerations for naturalization applicants, including travel history, tax compliance, immigration history, home-country citizenship rules, and USCIS’s more detailed good moral character review. She also shares practical tips for preparing Form N-400 and supporting documents.

Read the USCIS policy memorandum discussed in ...

Air date: September 1, 2026  ·  Episode #: 4

In this episode, Tahmina was joined by Michelle Hackman, Immigration Reporter at The Wall Street Journal.

Michelle Hackman is a reporter in The Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau, where she covers U.S. immigration policy. Her coverage includes writing about the southern border, legal and employment-based immigration, refugee resettlement, care of unaccompanied children, immi...

Air date: August 11, 2026  ·  Episode #: 1

In this first episode, immigration attorney Tahmina Watson introduces herself, Watson Immigration Law, and the topics listeners can expect—including visas, green cards, immigration updates, compliance, practical strategies, and the real-life impact of immigration law.

She also shares her passion for community service, photography, wellness, nature, and finding joy.

Tahmina Tal...

Air date: August 18, 2026  ·  Episode #: 2

In this episode, Tahmina was joined by Nick Bayard, Executive Director at BirdNote

Nick Bayard has served at the helm of BirdNote since 2021 and has led efforts to expand BirdNote’s audience, launch and grow BirdNote’s productions in Spanish, and contribute to more diversity and inclusion in environmental conservation and public media. Prior to his time at BirdNote, he ...

Air date: August 25, 2026  ·  Episode #: 3

In this episode, Tahmina Watson discusses major updates affecting H-1B visas, international students, CPT, and OPT. She also answers a listener’s question about traveling while an H-1B visa and adjustment-of-status application are pending.

Tahmina emphasizes the importance of staying informed and consulting an immigration attorney before making travel or immigration decisions...

Deirdre Conlon is Associate Professor in critical human geography at the University of Leeds, UK. Conlon’s research examines immigration, detention, and migrant (in)security with projects in the US, UK, and Ireland. Her current work examines detention and destitution economies, in other words, the ways immigration enforcement and migrant experience are bound up with capital, marketization, valuation, and commodification. She ...

Allison Sillberberg

Allison Sillberberg joins Tahmina on this episode to discuss Allison's experience as the Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia and the intersection between local governance and immigration.

A Public Affairs and Public Policy consultant and writer, Allison Silberberg served as the Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, from 2016 to 2019. She served as Vice Mayor from 2013 to 2016. In 2023, Allison served as a consultant for Strong...

In this episode, Damali Peterman shares vital tips and tricks for running a robust business. Tahmina and Damali speak about utilizing entrepreneurial “superpowers” and their start-up journeys. 

Damali Peterman is a trailblazing conflict resolution expert, award-winning bestselling author, and CEO of BreakthroughADR, a global firm transforming how individuals and organizations navigate conflict and achieve workplace ...

In this episode Tahmina is joined by Ruchika Malhotra

Tahmina Talks Immigration and The Startup Visa podcast series are produced and edited by Tamanna Jahan. 

Special thanks to our series sponsor, Pinnacle Plan Writing for making these episodes possible. You can visit their website at https://www.pinnacleplanwriting.com/

Check out Tahmina’s books at www.tahminawatson.com and our startup visa series which is intended to be y...

* Note- this event was held earlier in the year of 2025. We published the episode in December 2025. The policies were updated by USCIS in October 2025- with a new set of civics questions and adjudication standards. The application process and forms remain the same so the episode remains timely and relevant. Just ensure you check updated policies on the USCIS website. 

Given the challenges of 2025, it's imperative that US legal ...

Efren Hernandez, a life long USCIS policy leader, now working in the private sector sits down with Tahmina to discuss the shocking $100,000 fee imposed on H-1B visas. 

Efren Hernandez is the Founder of EH3 Immigration Consulting. He is an immigration lawyer with 32 years of experience in the field, the vast majority at the former INS and at USCIS. While he has seen and done just about everything in the immigration realm, for th...

Given the various challenges in the United States, many U.S. residents are seeking information on how to immigrate to Canada. Tahmina speaks with David Kika, an immigration expert practicing Canadian immigration law. 

David Kika is a seasoned business immigration professional based in North Vancouver, BC, with deep expertise in Canadian and international immigration pathways. He supports clients with LMIA applications, work per...

Senator Vandana Slatter helped pass state funding for a Washington State immigrant entrepreneur program, one of a handful in the entire country. Tahmina sits down to speak with her. 

Senator Vandana Slatter (D–WA 48th District) is a pharmacist, biotech professional, and trailblazing lawmaker who brings science, compassion, and equity to public service. Currently Vice Chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technolog...

This is an episode shared from The Startup Visa podcast that will be useful for our listeners. 

In this episode, our guest is Chris Bloomquist. He is a 20-year veteran of the technology industry, a 2-time startup founder, and expanding into the climate and environmental recruiting industries.  He has a passion to tell the stories of impactful environmental organizations, leveraging his executive level recruitment expertise...

In this episode, Jordan Lawrence is the EB5AN Director of Business Development. In this role, he structures EB-5 project offerings and develops new strategic relationships. Jordan most recently served as the Director of Operations at Houston EB5. He has over five years of experience in the real estate finance and development industries, online marketing, and international business development. You can learn more about him at https:...

In this episode of Tahmina Talks Immigration, I speak with Clive Stafford Smith- British American Human Rights Lawyer who is an expert on Guantanamo Bay detained cases having represented over 80 detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. 

He specialises in the areas of civil rights and working against the death penalty in the United States of America. He worked to overturn death sentences for convicts, and helped foun...

 Amanda DuBois is the founder and managing partner of DuBois Levias Law Group, a woman-owned boutique family law firm in Seattle. Before practicing law, she was a high-risk labor and delivery nurse at the University of Washington Medical Center, a background that informs her legal work and fuels her passion for social justice. Over the past thirty years, DuBois has represented thousands of clients in divorce and medical malpra...

Thank you so much for tuning into Tahmina Talks Immigration, with your host, Tahmina Watson. In this episode, I am honored to speak with Melanie Gladstone, director of Lakewood Playhouse's performance of The Diary of Anne Frank, and Nicole Lockett, cast member playing Edith Frank. The show runs April 15th to May 8th on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and select Thursdays at the Lakewood Playhouse in Lakewood, Washington. Tickets ...