As the war in Ukraine approaches its somber second anniversary, a heartwarming story emerges from Nova Scotia, proving that even amid challenging times, there are still tales of love and resilience. Scott Stephenson, a resident of Dartmouth, found love with Anna Babkova during a vacation in Ukraine in 2019. Their journey, marked by the war and a global pandemic, recently culminated in their reunion in Canada.
The couple exchanged vows in Kyiv in September 2020 with plans to start a life together in Canada. However, the immigration process proved to be arduous, taking two and a half years for them to finally reunite in Nova Scotia on December 28, 2022.
Stephenson expressed his shock at the prolonged immigration process, citing the challenges they faced. Babkova initially applied for a visitor visa in the summer of 2021, intending to pursue permanent residency upon arrival in Canada. However, when the visa was denied, the couple faced a year of separation. Stephenson, back in Halifax, initiated a permanent residency application for Babkova.
Complicating matters, the war in Ukraine erupted, altering their plans significantly. In September 2021, Stephenson returned to Canada to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Anticipating the worsening situation, he flew Babkova to Turkey on February 15, 2022, just days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Amid the chaos of war, Babkova applied for a visa under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, designed for those affected by the conflict. However, her application faced two rejections, as she is not a Ukrainian citizen. Despite appeals, Canada’s emergency policy did not extend its support to her.
The couple’s lawyer and Stephenson expressed astonishment at the denial, particularly given the accommodating policies of European countries for non-citizens fleeing the war. The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel is intended to allow Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality to stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years.
Babkova, originally from Hungary but having become a permanent resident of Ukraine in 2010, faced complications due to her citizenship status. Legal experts, such as Andy Semotiuk, a second-generation Ukrainian immigrant and an immigration law practitioner, acknowledged the challenges but suggested possible improvements in the system.
Semotiuk recommended refining spousal application processing and providing emergency support. For complex cases like Babkova’s, he proposed considering refugee claims. In the face of bureaucratic hurdles, Semotiuk urged individuals to reach out to their Members of Parliament for assistance.
Ultimately, the couple’s perseverance paid off when Babkova received her Canadian permanent resident visa on Christmas day. Since arriving in Canada, she shared her relief, stating that step by step, she is starting to feel safe, marking the end of a tumultuous journey and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
