Watson Immigration Law PLLC

Immigration Coalition for International Entrepreneurship Sends Open Letter Recommending Changes to International Entrepreneur Parole https://lnkd.in/g6aNe-Xq Yesterday, 36 organizations and individuals from the immigration and startup communities sent an open letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. The letter, available?here, commends the administration for reviving International Entrepreneur Parole (IEP) and recommends important procedural changes to make the program easier to use. Tahmina Watson Institute for Progress American Immigration Lawyers Association American Immigration Council Angel Capital Association Center for American Entrepreneurship Consumer Technology Association Digital Irish Economic Innovation Group Federation of American Scientists FWD.us Illinois Institute of Technology Illinois Science and Technology Coalition Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) National Immigration Forum National Venture Capital Association Niskanen Center Nova Credit Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ASSOICATION Katie Allen John Dearie Brad Feld Kumar Garg Troy Henikoff Jaclyn Freeman Hester Brienne Maner Fiona McEntee, J.D. Blake Patton Nik Rokop Leslie Lynn Smith Stephen Yale-Loehr #internationalentrepreneur #internationalentrepreneurrule #internationalentrepreneurparole #IEP #IER #startupvisa #immigration #immigrationlaw #immigrationpolicy #founders #startups #USCIS #DHS #venturecapital #entrepreneur #technology #innovation #startup

Join Tahmina Watson in the Startup Visa Series as we delve into the world of early-stage startups with Craig Montuori, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Global Entrepreneur in Residence Coalition. Discover his insights on engaging the startup community and lobbying for their interests. ?? Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/eFNE9AwD ?? Connect with Craig: Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/evw5gTEH The new season is dedicated to Tahmina's dear mentor Joel Paget. May his memory and legacy live on for generations. Thank you to our sponsor Pinnacle Plan Writing for their support of our podcast and our clients. Thank you William Dean and Marisa Marconi. Thank you to Tamanna Jahan and Sa?ata Li-an Dawa for helping with the production of the season. So grateful #StartupVisaSeries #Startup #Entrepreneurship #Policy #Advocacy

Join Tahmina Watson Episode 5 of the Startup Visa Series as we delve into the world of technology policy with Jennifer W. Senior Policy Advisor at Engine | Advocacy & Foundation Engine supports the growth of technology entrepreneurship through economic research, policy analysis, and advocacy on local and national issues. It is the voice of startups in government. ?? Listen to the episode here:? https://lnkd.in/dhDRVTV5 Connect with Jennifer:? LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dcqEDcuR &? https://lnkd.in/dcFDDhCB Twitter: @EngineOrg ?? Check Out Tahmina and Jennifer’s Article for the Hill’s Newspaper:? https://lnkd.in/eSxbWwMV ?The new season is dedicated to Tahmina's dear mentor Joel Paget. May his memory and legacy live on for generations. Thank you to our sponsor Pinnacle Plan Writing for their support of our podcast and our clients. Thank you William Dean and Marisa Marconi. Thank you to Tamanna Jahan and Sa?ata Li-an Dawa for helping with the production of the season. So grateful #StartupVisaSeries #Startup #Technology #Policy #Advocacy

Join Tahmina Watson for Episode 4 of the Startup Visa Series as we go into the world of international business and expansion with Daniel Glazer, founding partner of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati London office and a leader in transatlantic expansion. Daniel shares insights on U.S. market entry, fundraising, and M&A for high-growth UK and European tech and life sciences companies. ?? Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/dUG4HcdX Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dbTzhi3E The new season is dedicated to Tahmina's dear mentor Joel Paget. May his memory and legacy live on for generations. Thank you to our sponsor Pinnacle Plan Writing for their support of our podcast and our clients. Thank you William Dean and Marisa Marconi. Thank you to Tamanna Jahan and Sa?ata Li-an Dawa for helping with the production of the season. So grateful #StartupVisaSeries #InternationalBusiness #Expansion #Tech #LifeSciences #M&A

Conor Bradshaw, Lead BD & Partnerships Manager Brex,encourages immigrant entrepreneurs in episode 2 of the Start Up Visa Podcast, hosted by Tahmina Watson. Discover how Conor transitioned from producing TV commercials for Fortune 100 companies to building at Brex. You can listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/eg9RVz2v Connect With Connor: LinkedIn-? https://lnkd.in/eN2Pp_Vt Twitter- @conorbradd The new season is dedicated to Tahmina's dear mentor Joel Paget. May his memory and legacy live on for generations. Thank you to our sponsor Pinnacle Plan Writing for their support of our podcast and our clients. Thank you William Dean and Marisa Marconi. Thank you to Tamanna Jahan and Sa?ata Li-an Dawa for helping with the production of the season. So grateful. ?#StartupVisaSeries #TechStartups #Innovation #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #startupvisa #immigration #immigrationpolicy #tahminatalks #founders

Join Tahmina Watson in episode 3 of The Start Up Visa Podcast with Kristen Hoff, co-founder of Global Talent PR. Discover how Kristen Hoff helps international talent craft compelling narratives to secure O1, EB-1, and Global Talent visas. ?? Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/eKQ8m8YW Connect with Kristen: LinkedIn- https://lnkd.in/eyhbG2vJ IG- @kristenehoff The new season is dedicated to Tahmina's dear mentor Joel Paget. May his memory and legacy live on for generations. Thank you to our sponsor Pinnacle Plan Writing for their support of our podcast and our clients. Thank you William Dean and Marisa Marconi. Thank you to Tamanna Jahan and Sa?ata Li-an Dawa for helping with the production of the season. So grateful. #StartupVisaSeries #TechStartups #Innovation #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #PR #TalentAcquisition #immigration #O1Visa #EB1VISA

I had the distinct honor and privilege of presenting alongside the one and only Kathleen Hopkins at one of our distinguished law schools Seattle University Seattle University School of Law. Thank you, Lily Su, Director of the Access to Justice program, for inviting us to this important discussion. We presented our work with the King County Bar Association, which enabled the American Bar Association to pass a resolution requiring the United States Supreme Court to adopt a binding code of ethics. Kathleen continues to lead the effort at the ABA as the issue continues to be pressing. It was such an honor to have my mentee Cambria Judd Babbitt introduce me and to see my other mentees, Lance and Sana who were present too. I am grateful and honored that my book Legal Heroes will be on the shelves at the university. For anyone interested, here is a link to the book: https://lnkd.in/gv4Xq9BN Thank you again to the SU for having us. Shout out to Neal Black and James F. Williams, the 2022-2023 KCBA board and staff members, and all the other leaders who were part of ABA Resolution 400. cc Bridget T. Schuster Kathleen Jensen #justice #law #ruleoflaw #seattleuniversity #kcba

Tahmina Watson and Emily Parkhurst discuss immigration, entrepreneurship, and the economy on the newest episode of the Formidable Inc. Podcast! Listen now ?? : https://lnkd.in/gNKNy-ZU

Important news update on the International Entrepreneur Parole: USCIS announced today that there will be increases to various $$ requirements from October 1. See below for the changes announced. If you are a startup hoping to file IEP, it's important to consider it sooner rather than later. You are welcome to call our office at Watson Immigration Law PLLC for help. You can also learn more about the IEP in my book "The Startup Visa: US Immigration Visa Guide for Startups and Founders" at Chapter 8 and learn about preparation strategies. Here's a link. https://lnkd.in/gydHqX-T Here's an excerpt of what USCIS published and link below. Key Changes As required by regulation, we will make the following dollar figure adjustments: For an initial application, entrepreneurs must demonstrate the startup entity’s substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation by showing at least $311,071 (currently $264,147) in qualified investments from qualifying investors, at least $124,429 (currently $105,659) in qualified government awards or grants, or, if only partially meeting the threshold investment or award criteria, alternative reliable and compelling evidence of the start-up entity’s substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation. For a second period of authorized stay under the International Entrepreneur Rule, the entrepreneur generally must demonstrate that the start-up entity has either: Received a qualified investment, qualified government grants or awards, or a combination of such funding, of at least $622,142 (currently $528,293); Created at least five qualified jobs; or Reached annual revenue in the United States of at least $622,142 (currently $528,293) and averaged at least 20% in annual revenue growth. The definition of a “qualified investor” requires the investor to have a history of substantial investment in successful startup entities. We generally consider such an individual or organization a qualified investor if, during the preceding five years, the following apply: The individual or organization made investments in startup entities of at least $746,571 (currently $633,952) in total, in exchange for equity, convertible debt, or other security convertible into equity commonly used in financing transactions within the startup entities’ respective industries; and After such investment by such individual or organization, at least two such startup entities each created at least five qualified jobs or generated at least $622,142 (currently $528,293) in revenue with average annualized revenue growth of at least 20%. #startups #founders #immigration #venturefunding #vc

Tahmina Watson shares the importance of welcoming talented and innovative immigrants to the US on the Human Capitol Leadership podcast with Jonathan H. Westover, PhD, MPA, AF-CIPD, SFHEA! Check out the full podcast below! #USimmigration #immigrationpodcast #immigrationlaw