Through sickness and health, poverty and wealth - and rare blessings! The unicorned husband and wife's simultaneous-naturalization~ Mr. A, Mrs. Y, both applied and had issues with their case. Outside of the interview, they were calm, cool, collected - without fail; yet, inside the interviewing office, they were each split up and tested through rigors. There were small, barely audible voices, spines shivering as the anxiety passed through them, and the massaging of palms together in the attempt to coax the own body to relax. Nervousness.  It was with great pride when one heard that she passed, and with greater pride when they found out they passed together. They waited, studied, worried, pushed, dreaded, for years. A process that took close to 2 years with multiple failed interviews and even more hours of let's-regroup-to-improve-the-chances, many defeated moments, and moments of grit and determination to push forward, all accounted for something. Finally, they were granted citizenship, but not one by one, but together - the husband and wife shared each of their special day with the other beside them.  Of all the cases that I've done, this is the first, the first time that both husband and wife naturalized together. Giddy, exhausted, and prideful, I was brimming with pride for what they accomplished, and even more thankful to both witness and be part of it.

Anti-Asian Hate March, Charlotte, NC. 04.10.2021 The Center of Study of Hate and Extremism found that although hate crimes dropped 6% from 2019 to 2020, Asian-American violence did not follow the trend - it increased by 145%. Asian Hate grew into its own monster as America hibernated.  It is my absolute privilege to be invited to speak at this Anti-Asian Hate march, assisting in the effort to combat the racism against our hard-working community. I was but one voice that day, one being, one supporter in the wave of this march. Seeing the city come our in droves humbles me, reminding me of the support and love of Charlotte.  A special thank you to the following, and many more for helping me hone this speech for this cause. Your time and thoughts were heard by Charlotte on this day.  @cunli25 @addcoffee2run @alyciamarie394 @olly.yung @quintessentialquyen @ultrasonicbokeh #charlotte #activism #onephamily #asian #youngattorney #immigration #abagado #luatsu #northcarolina #unity

There are many couples in which our office works hard to reunite, and I wish I could share all their stories.  This particular story has been over a year in the making. The first photo: the then freshly-married couple. There are difficulties in proving a marriage for older couples to the government, the timeline doesn't read like young adult romance novels. It's hard to say you wish to grow old together when so many years have passed - so USCIS gave some pushback to the non-traditional state of the marriage.  The second photo is her surprising her husband at work, "look honey, look what came in." It was a piece of plastic that meant that they could stay together. A piece of plastic that embodied her right to live without fear, with the security that she could share a home with her husband without having to leave him. A piece of plastic that embodied hours of training, days lost to anxiety and worry, weeks of frustration and evidence gathering, and months of just correspondence-lacking waiting-for-the-government-to-write-me-back. There was work that had to be done and so it was. As of this week, another couple got to stay together - at this firm, I am brought pride to be able to reunite, bind, and ensure families stay together.  There are many amazing ups and downs that come with this experience, and these moments are one to add to the collection of career success.  #onephamily #attorney #love #immigration #luatsu #abogado #charlotte #clt #oldlove

We got her naturalized in time to vote or whateva. 3 previous attempts for citizenship, no dice, issues here and there. She came to us concerned that she would fail again, she came to us on a recommendation from family trusting us to improve her chances. We entered that morning at 8a, first interview of the day, she was nervous and rightfully so. Did she just pay another large sum of money to the government only to be turned away again? Again? The hours we put into her case to ensure she would be ready and know how to answer, the training and drilling necessary to ensure her preperation. 45 minutes since walking into the interview, she got the approval that she was to be naturalized; and in a blissful state of fortunateness, she didn't have to wait weeks, but instead an hour, to have diploma swearing in. I'm honored to be a part of her process, to ensure that another voting voice joins the rank of Americans. #onephamily #immigration #immigrationlaw #immigrationreform #instasuccess #suit #suitedup #naturalize #american #citizen #immigration#charlotte #dapper #follow #law #lawyer #vote #vote2020 #attorney

My mother taught me "if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, travel together." Our firm stands in solidarity with the community. We've seen your pain firsthand. We hear your pain. We will travel together.

About once a year, I get to do what some people dream about for their entire childhood - and it's amazing. Kenneth Pham, immigration attorney by day, wedding planner by night. In their elder age, they wouldn't think they could find anyone. By happenstance, they bumped into each other several years back and today, here, the now Mr. and newly-minted Mrs. "T" stand before you as husband and wife. And it's heart-warming feeling, watching people take something so small as a courthouse marriage with such joy. It's a heartwarming feeling know that all of your whirlwind with clients and company in tow made this moment possible. Other's may turn their eyes or scoff at the non-extravagance of a simple courthouse marriage, yet, doing so dismisses the small honest moments; her eyes that light up when presented with the opportunity to formally take his last name, the shared glance when they are asked to take each other's hands into their own during the ceremony, and the warmth washing over the room as they are announced they are -now- officially wedded. Mr. and Mrs. V. humbled me, heminding me that moments are what you make of it. #onephamily #immigration #immigrationlaw #immigrationreform #success #suit #suitedup #dapper #marriage #instalove #charlotte #clt #lessons #moments #lawyer #law #love #instagood #follow #likeforlikes

It's official, I'm 28 years old. I've kept waiting for the weight of this age; that 27 was neither closer to 25 or to 30, but now, 28 is more definitively one-side - this sensation of being an old person- to hit me. It hasn't hit. Rather, I'm feeling a sense of pride with being 28. I'm proud to be 28 because I was instilled in this weekend getting plenty of "old-man day-naps" and in the good company of even older souls. #birthday #party #friends #instagram #photos #cltlaw #youngattorney #lawyer #amazing #people #onephamily #thankful #blessed This weekend alone, I've made new friends and consolidated time with old ones.  There were, to name a few: 2 separate house parties of the highest spirit, nights of just quiet drinking and bonfire warmed-discussions, impromptu greasy burgers after a classy couple rounds of cocktails, boisterous drunken laughter liberally spread throughout, and the traditionally-honored suits, birthday steak, and martinis. And in this whirlwind of a weekend, I found there was one beautiful constant - I was surrounded by people who I loved and who love me in return. It is no terrible secret that your boy, Kenneth here, is a sappy fellow. He is quite aware of it. It doesn't stop him from making this post an appreciation post about all the people who make life that much more flavorful and palatable. How can he not, he's thankful for such wonderful souls. His turning of 28 is a reminder that he spent the last year growing among irreplaceable people, experiencing new things, and learning much more. His 28th birthday is a celebration of everything he did when he was 27. Granted, he's not perfect, still, - surprise, surprise - but he's learning, growing, and making the most of the life given. I'm 28; here's to you, my good friends. For the amazing year that you've given me as I was 27. This time, let's do it all again. Of course, not the mistakes, but the growth, the laughter, the wisdom, the connections - I look forward to it all, with you, my good friends. Sincerely, Kenneth Pham #charlotte #charlotteattorneys #gift #sappy #mommaraisedasappyboy #loveyall