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.

Tahmina Talks Immigration airs live every Tuesday at 10:00 AM PST on Bolly 92.3 AM/FM. This episode was produced by Watson Immigration Law.

Missed the live show? Listen to the replay here on the Tahmina Talks Immigration® podcast. 

Check out Tahmina's books at www.tahminawatson.com — including the Startup Visa series, your toolbox for navigating the immigration journey.

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina's Finding Joy journal series, including her bestselling coloring book, Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book.

Be sure to follow us at www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and visit Tahmina's Amazon author page and author website.

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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 served as an environmental education Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay, a natural sciences instructor in the Grand Teton National Park, Director of a large social services organization, and as Deputy Director for the City of Tacoma’s Office of Equity and Human Rights. Nick holds a master’s degree in Public Administration in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Brown University. While he loves birds of all shapes and sizes, cassowaries, owls, and hummingbirds hold a special place in his heart.

Learn more about Nick Bayard on LinkedIn at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbayard/ 

Tahmina Talks Immigration airs live every Tuesday at 10:00 AM PST on Bolly 92.3 AM/FM. This episode was produced by Watson Immigration Law.

Missed the live show? Listen to the replay here on the Tahmina Talks Immigration® podcast. 

Check out Tahmina's books at www.tahminawatson.com — including the Startup Visa series, your toolbox for navigating the immigration journey.

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina's Finding Joy journal series, including her bestselling coloring book, Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book.

Be sure to follow us at www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and visit Tahmina's Amazon author page and author website.

Sign up for our blog and connect with us on social media:

LinkedIn — Watson Immigration Law and Tahmina Watson

Twitter/X — @TahminaTalks

Instagram — @TahminaTalks

Facebook — Watson Immigration Law

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 Talks Immigration airs live every Tuesday at 10:00 AM PST on Bolly 92.3 AM/FM. This episode was produced by Watson Immigration Law.

Missed the live show? Listen to the replay here on the Tahmina Talks Immigration® podcast. 

Check out Tahmina's books at www.tahminawatson.com — including the Startup Visa series, your toolbox for navigating the immigration journey.

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina's Finding Joy journal series, including her bestselling coloring book, Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book.

Be sure to follow us at www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and visit Tahmina's Amazon author page and author website.

Sign up for our blog and connect with us on social media:

LinkedIn — Watson Immigration Law and Tahmina Watson

Twitter/X — @TahminaTalks

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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 is the co-author of Immigration Detention Inc. (2025)

You can learn more about Deirdre at https://leeds.academia.edu/DeirdreConlon 

Nancy Hiemstra is a political geographer specializing in U.S. immigration enforcement, detention, and deportation. Her research examines the immigration detention industry, the effects of U.S. policies in Latin America, particularly Ecuador, and the political narratives surrounding immigration. She is the co-author of Immigration Detention Inc. (2025), author of Detain and Deport (2019), and a member of the Scholar Strategy Network.

You can learn more about Nancy Hiemstra at | LinkedIn 

Here is a link to their important book Immigration Detention Inc.: The Big Business of Locking up Migrants: Hiemstra, Nancy, Conlon, Deirdre: 9780745349466: Amazon.com: Books

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

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

Check out Tahmina’s books at www.tahminawatson.com and our startup visa series, which is intended to be your toolbox for the success of your immigration journey.  

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina’s journal Finding Joy series. Here’s a link to her best-selling new coloring book: Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book: Watson, Tahmina, Jahan, Tamanna, Watson, Sofia, Watson, Sarina: 9798988507239: Amazon.com: Books 

Be sure to follow us on our website www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and Tahmina’s author page on Amazon Amazon Author page and her author website www.tahminawatson.com. 

Sign to our blog- and connect with us on on social media:
LinkedIn - Watson Immigration Law and Tahmina Watson
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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 your toolbox for the success of your immigration journey.  

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina’s journal Finding Joy series. Here’s a link to her best selling new coloring book: Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book: Watson, Tahmina, Jahan, Tamanna, Watson, Sofia, Watson, Sarina: 9798988507239: Amazon.com: Books 

Be sure to follow us on our website www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and Tahmina’s author page on Amazon Amazon Author page and her author website www.tahminawatson.com. 

Sign to our blog- and connect with us on on social media:
LinkedIn - Watson Immigration Law and Tahmina Watson
Twitter - @TahminaTalks
Instagram - @TahminaTalks
Facebook - Watson Immigration Law

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 harmony. With over 20 years of experience as a lawyer, mediator, and educator, Damali is also a distinguished mediator, arbitrator, and ombudsman with JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services in the world. Her expertise in negotiation and conflict resolution has made her a sought-after authority across industries.

Damali is the author of the award-winning and bestselling book Negotiating While Black: Be Who You Are to Get What You Want, published by Penguin Random House in North America and Bonnier Books internationally. Learn more about Damali here.

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 your toolbox for the success of your immigration journey.  

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina’s journal Finding Joy series. Here’s a link to her best selling new coloring book: Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book: Watson, Tahmina, Jahan, Tamanna, Watson, Sofia, Watson, Sarina: 9798988507239: Amazon.com: Books 

Be sure to follow us on our website www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and Tahmina’s author page on Amazon Amazon Author page and her author website www.tahminawatson.com. 

Sign to our blog- and connect with us on on social media:
LinkedIn - Watson Immigration Law and Tahmina Watson
Twitter - @TahminaTalks
Instagram - @TahminaTalks
Facebook - Watson Immigration Law

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 Cities Network, which commissioned her on “A Guide for Mayors: Preventing and Responding to Hate, Extremism & Polarisation” to help mayors shore up democratic institutions and civil society in their communities. 

Check out Allison’s Plain Talk (on Substack) and learn more about her career here.

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 your toolbox for the success of your immigration journey.  

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina’s journal Finding Joy series. Here’s a link to her best selling new coloring book: Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book: Watson, Tahmina, Jahan, Tamanna, Watson, Sofia, Watson, Sarina: 9798988507239: Amazon.com: Books 

Be sure to follow us on our website www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and Tahmina’s author page on Amazon Amazon Author page and her author website www.tahminawatson.com. 

Sign to our blog- and connect with us on on social media:
LinkedIn - Watson Immigration Law and Tahmina Watson
Twitter - @TahminaTalks
Instagram - @TahminaTalks
Facebook - Watson Immigration Law

* 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 permanent residents (LPR) should consider applying for the US.  LPRs, also referred to as green card holders, have faced heighten scrutiny and even been detained. 

For that reason, to empower our community, Tahmina held a free webinar on zoom to guide people on how to apply for citizenship. We decided to release the recording in the hopes that more people can be empowered through our listeners. 

Here is a recording of the webinar to help others. 

Here is the link to the form Application for Naturalization | USCIS

Should you wish to schedule a consultation, email [email protected]

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

Check out Tahmina’s books at www.tahminawatson.com and our startup visa series which is intended to be your toolbox for the success of your immigration journey.  

Here is a link to her bestselling visa guide book: The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders: Watson, Tahmina, Doughty, Caroline, Buhain, Venice, Vos, Troy: 9781735758572: Amazon.com: Books

Here is her policy book: The Startup Visa: Key to Job Growth & Economic Prosperity in America: Watson, Tahmina, Turnbull, Lornet, Feld, Brad: 9781735758534: Amazon.com: Books

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina’s journal Finding Joy Finding Joy: A Journal to Discover What Lights You Up: Watson, Tahmina: 9798988507222: Amazon.com: Books

Be sure to follow us on our website www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and Tahmina’s author page on Amazon Amazon Author page and her author website www.tahminawatson.com. 

S

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 the last 24 years he has focused on business/employment-based immigration. He has held leadership roles at USCIS and the legacy INS, and has been involved in the creation of many major policies in the employment-based realm. He is retired from USCIS and now uses his deep institutional, legal, and policy knowledge to offer high-level strategic consulting on complex immigration questions.

You can learn more about Efren on LinkedIn at Efren Hernandez III | LinkedIn

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

Check out Tahmina’s books at www.tahminawatson.com and our startup visa series which is intended to be your toolbox for the success of your immigration journey.  

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina’s journal Finding Joy series. Here’s a link to her best selling new coloring book: Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book: Watson, Tahmina, Jahan, Tamanna, Watson, Sofia, Watson, Sarina: 9798988507239: Amazon.com: Books 

Be sure to follow us on our website www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and Tahmina’s author page on Amazon Amazon Author page and her author website www.tahminawatson.com. 

Sign to our blog- and connect with us on on social media:
LinkedIn - Watson Immigration Law and Tahmina Watson
Twitter - @TahminaTalks
Instagram - @TahminaTalks
Facebook - Watson Immigration Law

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 & Technology Committee, she also serves on the Health and Higher Education committees. A former Bellevue City Councilmember and four-term State House Representative, Vandana was the first Indian-American elected to the Washington State House. Her work has championed climate policy, healthcare privacy, education access, and innovation. A naturalized citizen, community leader, and public school parent, Vandana’s journey from pharmacy to policy is grounded in service, representation, and creating opportunity for all.

You can learn more about Senator Slatter at Vandana Slatter for State Senate | Meet Vandana

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

Check out Tahmina’s books at www.tahminawatson.com and our startup visa series which is intended to be your toolbox for the success of your immigration journey.  

And if the world is feeling heavy right now, cultivate joy in your life with Tahmina’s journal Finding Joy series. Here’s a link to her best selling new coloring book: Color Your Joy: Birds and Wildlife Coloring Book: Watson, Tahmina, Jahan, Tamanna, Watson, Sofia, Watson, Sarina: 9798988507239: Amazon.com: Books 

Be sure to follow us on our website www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com and Tahmina’s author page on Amazon Amazon Author page and her author website www.tahminawatson.com. 

Sign to our blog- and connect with us on on social media:
LinkedIn - Watson Immigration Law and Tahmina Watson
Twitter - @TahminaTalks
Instagram - @TahminaTalks
Facebook - Watson Immigration Law