A Russian family who have been travelling around the world for 14 years by boat are bound for Bermuda this week as they wait out a fateful decision by Canadian Immigration authorities.

The Bondarenko family of Marina, Vitaly and their sons Ivan, 12, and Vasily, six, left the former Soviet Union and began sailing in their 11 metre yacht the all over the globe.

They arrived in Nova Scotia, Canada last July and decided to stay for a few weeks to repair the boat and replenish supplies. However, the family settled in the seaside town of Lunenberg and decided they had enough of life at sea.

Canadian Immigration allowed the Bondarenkos enough time to repair their boat, but when authorities checked on their status they were still in Nova Scotia in October. They had tried to leave in December but bad weather and storms sent their yacht back to port.

This week Canadian authorities issued an exclusion order meaning the family would have had to leave Canada for 12 months and face an uncertain future.

On Wednesday the Bondarenko?s had filled up their boat with fuel for the journey into international waters until a last minute reprieve was granted when Canadian Immigration officials in Halifax changed their decision and lifted the exclusion order.

The Bondarenkos must still leave Canada, but in the meantime they could apply right away for the proper documentation which would allow them to return to Nova Scotia to live and work.

Chief Immigration Officer Dr. Martin Brewer told yesterday that the family will be given initially 21 days to stay in Bermuda, and can then apply for an extension under the law.

He said the maximum the Bondarenkos would be able to stay in Bermuda is up to five months.

The family is currently on their way to Bermuda and are due to arrive at the end of next week. They hope to stay on the Island as their lawyer gets to work filling out the appropriate paperwork.

As soon as they are admitted to the Island, the family can begin applying to return to Canada which authorities estimate will take several months.

If they want to apply for landed immigration status in Canada the process is much more complicated as it requires the Bondarenkos to go through Moscow.