Tahmina Talks Immigration

Immigration & post election thoughts on immigration by Tahmina Watson

In this episode that aired on 11/1/2016, we have our very first panel discussion on Election and Immigration. Alex Stonehill, co-founder and editor of The Seattle Globalist and Joaquin Uy, communications specialist for the City of Seattle's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs joined me. We talk about the effect of immigrants on this election and the election on immigration matters. We also talk about why local elections matter for immigration issues too. The show was broadcast live on Facebook on our Watson Immigration Law page. Here is a link. http://immigrationlawyersinseattle.com/2016/11/01/video-recording-election-special-radio-show-alex-stonehill-joaquin-uy-november-1st-10am-pst-desi-1250am/

In this episode on that aired on 10/25/16, I discuss new policy released that will allow spouses of certain non-immigrant visas who are victims of abuse. The new policy will help a very vulnerable group of people. Below is a link to some more details. http://immigrationlawyersinseattle.com/2016/10/25/work-permission-abused-spouses-g-e-3-h-visa-holders-details/

In this episode that aired on 10/18/16, renowned Bangladeshi actor and director Tauquir Ahmed joins us on the phone all the way from Bangladesh. His award winning and Oscar nominated film Unnamed screened at the Seattle South Asian Film Festival 2016 this very night. Tauquir discussed why the movie is important to bringing awareness to poor working conditions in the Middle East for Bangladeshi citizens.

In this episode that aired on 10/11/16, we talk with Kiran Dhillon, Festival Director of the Seattle South Asian Film Festival 2016 held by Tasveer. Kiran shares her own immigration story with us before talking about the films that will screen at the festival. Here is the blogpost for this episode: http://immigrationlawyersinseattle.com/2016/10/10/festival-director-tasveer-ssaff-kiran-dhillon-tahminas-radio-show-101116-10am-pst/

On this episode which aired on 10/4/16, we talk to Manan Mehta, co-founder of Unshackled. We talk about immigrant entrepreneurs and the new entrepreneur parole rules. Manan also explains the application process for funding for startups from Unshackled. This is a fascinating discussion and hope you will enjoy!

In this episode, we discuss the business or art and immigration with the immensely talented Polish artist Justyna Kisielewiz. We discuss her art, inspiration and immigration journey. We have the opportunity to discuss a lesser used visa named E-1 Treaty Trader visa. Listen to this wonderfully informative interview to learn more about the business or art and immigration. This episode aired on 9/27/16.

I am thrilled that my guest on 9/13/2016 was renowned journalist Sara O’Brien from CNN Money on “Immigration with Tahmina” on Desi 1250am. Sara has been a phenomenal voice for immigrant entrepreneurs over the years and it is an absolute honor to have her on the show! She discusses the importance of stories and how awareness can bring change. Sara is a reporter at CNNMoney, covering startups, entrepreneurs, tech, and innovation. She is a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, class of 2014. Sara was a regular contributor to the New York Post Sunday Business section, and has freelanced for various publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic and The Date Report. Previously, she worked on the business side of magazines in digital and integrated marketing at Time Inc. and Us Weekly. Her primary interests include entrepreneurs, innovative startups, and the collision of tech and culture but she can’t resist the occasional story on relationship dynamics in the digital age.I a

In honor of National Welcoming Week coming up (Sept. 16-25), I asked one our state’s most respected leaders to join me on my show to talk about how she has transformed her city into one of the nation’s most welcoming cities ever. I am so thrilled my guest next on 9/20/16 was the Mayor of The City of Kent! The City of Kent of was the second city to incorporate in King County. With 138 languages spoken and a globally reflective community, the City of Kent has done much to grow with its diverse population. From it’s hiring policies to bridging the gap between government and residents-much effort has been dedicated to integrate people from all walks of life and all parts of the world. Mayor Cooke will talk about she has led this community for over 10 years in which diversity has grown significantly yet people from all parts of the globe feel welcome. Mayor Cooke and I talk diversity, immigration, #welcomingweek and much more!Suzette Cooke was elected Mayor of the City of Kent in 2005 and re-elected in both 200

On this episode aired on September 6 2016, I am incredibly honored to have my guest Doug Rand, Assistant Director for Entrepreneurship, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.Doug shares important statistics on immigrant contributions and how the US would benefit economically from these rules that I spoke about in detail in the previous show aired on 8/30/2016. He also shares tips on how best to formulate comments. This is an unmissable episode if you are at all involved in the startup echo system. Please share widely and ask people to comment by Octber 17!Here is a link to the blog post about Doug Rand's appearance. A huge thank you to Doug for taking time out of this busy schedule to talk to me about the new International Entrepreneur rules! http://immigrationlawyersinseattle.com/2016/09/04/doug-rand-white-house-ostp-tahminas-radio-show-talk-entrepreneur-rules/

On this episode aired on 8/30/2016, I look at the new proposed rules on international entrepreneurs in detail. You can find the rules at this link from my Watson Immigration Law blog. The deadline to comment on the new rules is October 17 2016. http://immigrationlawyersinseattle.com/2016/08/28/international-entrepreneurs-rule-detailed-summary-tahmina/

In this episode of #ImmigrationwithTahmina, I answer a question from a British citizen who emailed me from the UK. The question was " After Brexit, I'm considering my options for living in another country. What are my options to move the US?"My response includes all the options from temporary long visits to permanent residency. These options will apply to most people trying to move to the US.

In this episode, we chat with #GoodMuslimBadMuslim's Taz Ahmed about why immigrant and minority rights are important in the community and why she became an activist. Tanzila ‘Taz’ Ahmed, co-host of #GoodMuslimBadMuslim! Tanzila “Taz” Ahmed is an activist, storyteller, and politico based in Los Angeles. An electoral organizer by trade, she’s mobilized thousands of Asian American & Pacific Islanders to the polls in over seventeen different languages in the past fifteen years at various non-profit organizations, starting with founding South Asian American Voting Youth in 2004. She currently is a Campaign Strategist at the Asian American new media organizing group 18MillionRising. In 2016, Taz was honored as a White House Champion of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling. She is cohost of The #GoodMuslimBadMuslim Podcast that has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Wired, and Buzzfeed as well as live shows recorded at South by Southwest and the White House. An avid essayist,

In this episode, my guest is renowned immigration attorney Robert Pauw. We discuss one of the most interesting immigration cases of 2015- Mehta vs. DOS, aka, #VisaGate2015. This interview was also recorded on Facebook Live- here is a link: https://www.facebook.com/Watson-Immigration-Law-36327429955/

In this episode, we discuss bank loans specifically designed for immigration petitions such as citizenship and green card applications. Our guest Martin Vallen from Express Credit Union joins us to describe why these are important and how people can apply. This was our first Facebook Live recording. It was much fun - hope you will enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/Watson-Immigration-Law-36327429955/

On episode #35 of Immigration with Tahmina which aired on 7.12.16, I have the honor of chatting with Saba Nafees is a member of the White House Initiative for on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Saba is a recipient of DACA- (deferred action for childhood arrivals- a program created by President Obama for undocumented children in the US). She is one of the first applicants of the program and a national advocate for DACA.Nafees is currently pursuing a PhD with research focused in mathematical biology at Texas Tech University after graduating in May of 2014 with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics with Highest Honors. To graduate with this distinction, she wrote an original Honors Thesis on her research. As an undergraduate, she conducted research with Dr. Sean Rice, a theoretical evolutionary biologist, through the TTU Howard Hughes Medical Institute Program. In her undergrad, she had the pleasure of founding multiple student groups such as the Mathematics Ambassadors and the first ever Define American chapter i

In this episode, we talk about new citizenship and voting as over 100 naturalization ceremonies took place the day before on July 4th. I am also honored to speak with notable immigration attorney and Alaska Senate candidate Margaret Stock! I am proud to call her a friend and mentor and am excited at the prospect of her being a strong voice for immigration reform in the Senate. I am honored she is taking time of our busy campaign to join me on my show “Immigration with Tahmina” on Desi 1250am. Listen to Margaret discuss why she is running for a Senate seat and how she hopes to bring change to US immigration laws.

On this episode, we mention Hillary's Clinton unveiling of a Startup Visa. we are also very honored to speak with Ben Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)! The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national association of more than 14,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. AILA member attorneys represent U.S. families seeking permanent residence for close family members, as well as U.S. businesses seeking talent from the global marketplace. AILA members also represent foreign students, entertainers, athletes, and asylum seekers, often on a pro bono basis. Founded in 1946, AILA is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that provides continuing legal education, information, professional services, and expertise through its 39 chapters and over 50 national committees.Ben Johnson was named Executive Director of AILA in January 2016. Prior to that, he was the Director of the American Immigration Council from

We are so very honored that my guest on June 21st at 10am PST on “Immigration with Tahmina” on Desi 1250am radio was Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of the Partnership for New American Economy (PNAE)! The Partnership is one of the leading organizations in America on immigration issues. The Partnership for a New American Economy brings together more than 500 Republican, Democratic, and Independent mayors and business leaders united in making the economic case for streamlining, modernizing, and rationalizing our immigration system.Jeremy Robbins has been the Executive Director since 2012. Before joining the Partnership, he was Policy Advisor and Special Counsel to the New York Mayor’s office. Under his leadership, the PNAE has advised all level of government on immigration issues. The website is a source of information like no other. You can ‘like’ the Facebook page or follow on Twitter @renewoureconomy.Jeremy shared invaluable information about the Partnership, its efforts on immigration reform and how yo

In this episode of ImmigrationWithTahmina on Desi1250am radio, I talk with the Deputy Mayor of Seattle Hyeok Kim. She discusses the reasons immigration is important to the City of Seattle and the current adminstration, the current programs of the City for immigrants and refugees and the upcoming Flag Day to be held on June 14th where 20 Seattle residents will become US citizens. Hope you enjoy learning valuable information about the City of Seattle's commendable efforts to help immigrants refugees.