Tahmina Watson, one of the top attorneys for startups in the U.S., never intended to practice immigration law. Growing up in the U.K. in a family of immigration lawyers, she witnessed her father handle his clients’ cases.
“I didn’t want to do something that would make me cry and feel so compelled by my clients all the time,” she said. “To me, immigration felt inherently humanitarian, and it would always pull at my heartstrings.”
Tahmina’s own experience as a child also shaped her perspective. When she was eight years old, her family moved to Bangladesh. Upon returning to the U.K., she had to adjust again, re-learning English and navigating a new phase of her life.
After earning a law degree in the U.K., Tahmina practiced as a barrister. Then one blind date changed everything. Tahmina fell in love at first sight and followed her heart across the Atlantic.
Although she never wanted to live in the U.S., Tahmina took the New York bar exam and moved to Seattle. She ultimately decided to work in immigration law — a field she had long resisted.
Tahmina planned to give it five years and then move on. But once she began working with founders launching their ventures in the U.S., she fell in love with their bold ideas and vibrant energy.
“I’ve been lucky to meet visionaries who just needed a visa to turn their dreams into reality,” she said. “Every time someone shared their dream with me, it pushed me to a deeper level of commitment, thinking, ‘I have to help make this happen.’ Knowing the impact they’ll have keeps me motivated.”
“All I want to do is a startup”
In 2009, Tahmina launched her practice, Watson Immigration Law, amidst a recession. In Seattle, home to giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing, layoffs were hitting hard.
“People kept coming to me, saying, ‘Tahmina, I just want to start my own company — help me,’” Watson recalls. During this time, she assisted many clients in transitioning to H-1B visas through their own businesses.
However, Watson quickly identified a critical gap in the system: there was no dedicated visa for startup founders.
“The current immigration system wasn’t designed for today’s startups.
The laws were created in the 1990s, when businesses operated differently.
Why don’t we have a pathway for tech entrepreneurs raising venture capital, using equity, and building high-growth companies?”
In 2010, Chile became one of the first countries to introduce a startup visa, and Watson saw an opportunity to push for similar changes in the U.S.
“I got connected with a small group of people who were lobbying for this type of visa,” she said. “Why shouldn’t we aim for perfection — a world where entrepreneurs are celebrated and have visas that truly reflect the work they do?”
By 2013, when the comprehensive immigration reform bill came out, Tahmina put everything into advocating for the startup visa. Although the Senate passed the bill, which included provisions for such a visa, it ultimately failed in the House.
Turning advocacy into action
The advocacy effort led to a new chapter in Tahmina’s journey: writing a book, which she was encouraged to do by her client, an international investor.
“At first, I didn’t know how to do it, but it felt like the right step,” Tahmina said. So, she simply kept writing.
The result was The Startup Visa: Key to Job Growth and Economic Prosperity in America. The book played a significant role in the 2021 congressional testimony on the Startup Visa.
During the discussions on the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER), designed to help foreign founders remain in the U.S., one of the FAQ summaries used by the White House was based on Tahmina’s work.
Originally finalized under the Obama administration in 2017, IER had a period of inactivity before being reinstated in 2021.
Ten years of advocacy led to Washington State’s Global Entrepreneur in Residence program, which was introduced last year. The legislation allows international students to stay in the U.S. and launch startups. Tahmina led the effort alongside senator Vandana Slatter.
“Thanks to her leadership, we were able to establish one of five state-funded immigrant entrepreneur programs in the U.S.,” Tahmina said.
Her first book for policymakers gradually evolved into a practical guide for entrepreneurs navigating the U.S. visa system. The Startup Visa: U.S. Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders is available in English and Spanish.
The book is written with the startup cycle in mind, from idea to scaling, raising capital, and selling a startup, with the most appropriate immigration solutions at every stage.
Many founders may not realize that obtaining a green card may be more prudent to obtain before selling their companies, according to Tahmina. Her client, who started a business on an L1A executive transfer visa and negotiated an acquisition with a green card in mind, shared her journey in a podcast.
What’s next for the startup visa?
With the new administration in power and anti-immigrant rhetoric on the rise, Tahmina’s top priority is keeping her clients safe. She said she will continue to advocate for better policies while working closely with lawmakers.
“I want to work with those who prioritize the greater good of the nation and all the people — the visionaries driving change for the next generation,” she said.
She believes immigrant founders are entering an era of challenges and advises them to stay strong through it.
“Follow the law and make sure to have good legal representation,” Tahmina said. “Be your own advocate, because that’s the way. And focus on the success of your business — everything else will follow.”
Disclaimer: Watson Immigration Law is a supporter of The Vertical and a Recommended Service Provider.
