Some good news.

After many hours of legal research on my end and meaningful correspondence with my HR department, we have reached an amicable agreement about our leave request.

The district requested more information from the local orphans court in Media. There a court clerk explained the two ways one can adopt in Pennsylvania. The first being the adoption is finalized (if it is an international adoption), in the foriegn country at the respective American Embassy. Second, the adoption is not finialized at the host country and needs to be finalized in front of a local county judge (This is called readoption).

Our HR director knew all along that we were finalizing in Russia (Option 1). After this was confirmed, we were told we will be able to take FMLA leave and keep our benefits in force while we travel.

Now we need to figure out how to get our family policy in place before we travel. This will be tough though since we do not have a name or SS # for these child(ren)

Till next time and thanks for reading.