Russian family gets break on return to Canada

Russian family gets break on return to Canada

CTV.ca News Staff

The Bondarenko family set sail for Bermuda Tuesday, in the hopes they will soon be able to return to Canada as immigrants.

Still, they refrained from bidding their friends "Goodbye." Instead, they left after wishing each other "See you soon."

Indeed, there was good news for the family of sailors before they left the country they now call home.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada had ordered the native Russians to stay away Canada for one year before their application to immigrate could be acted upon, but officials have now lifted that order.

However, Vitaly Bondarenko, his wife Marina and their two sons must still leave Nova Scotia.

They can return once their lawyer has processed their application to become landed immigrants.

This is not the first time the Bondarenko family has been told to leave.

In December 2004 they were prepared to sail from Halifax in freezing conditions after their visas expired. Immigration officials stopped their boat and said they could stay through the winter.

Some believe a trip during winter could have killed them.

The Immigration department gave the family a six-month residency permit that lasts until June 30.

An Immigration official said the problems started when the family was unable to produce proper travel documents, such as a visa.

"What we're saying is, 'Yes, we do want people to come here.' But we don't want people to just show up and say, 'We're here, now deal with us,'" said Ron Heisler, spokesman for Immigration Canada.

"The good news on this story . . . is that when they came in here (Wednesday), they were under the impression they would have to stay out of Canada for a year. Now, because the order is invalid, they can come back after they apply . . . without the one-year waiting period."

The Bondarenkos have been sailing around the world since leaving Russia 14 years ago. The family is fluent in English, and Vitaly Bondarenko is trained in the field of sound vibration engineering.

The two sons were both born in different places: 12-year-old Ivan was born in Maryland, while his six-year-old brother Vasily was born in Australia.

The family has found odd jobs in various ports around the world.

After meeting some Canadians in the Caribbean, they decided to visit Canada.

They now consider Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, to be their home, where they have settled since December.

The town has shown their support for the family in their struggle for citizenship.

"It's our home and our family and we just have nobody in the world except people here taking care of us, and Lunenburg is our home now," Marina Bondarenko told CTV's Halifax affiliate, ATV News.

Despite the small victory, supporters of the family had criticism for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

"When you get stuck in the letter and completely ignore the spirit, which is to bring good people to this country, it's very stupid," said Gregg Ernst.

With a report from ATV News' Elizabeth Chiu

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