India, Aug. 2 -- A Canadian study permit isn't a permanent residence document. A college letter isn't a job offer. A post-graduation work permit isn't a guarantee that a graduate will qualify for PR

Canada didn't go to homes in Punjab, Gujarat, or any other part of India and promise every child a Canadian future. Yet Canada permanent residence was often sold that way, through glossy offices, confident agents, and assurances that study would lead straight to settlement.

For many families, the pitch sounded simple: pay the tuition, get the visa, find a job, and secure PR. The real system was never that simple. It involved rules, scores, work experience, language tests, provincial programs, occupation requirements, and changing immigration...