How legal status actually works in practice, and why "being allowed to stay" is only part of the picture.
Visa labels sound clear, but in practice they describe intent—not how your everyday life will actually work.
Getting approved is only one moment. What happens after approval is where most misunderstandings begin.
Legal status isn't something you lock in once — it shifts with your job, your address, your relationship, and a dozen conditions you agreed to but never read.
Permanent residency sounds like an ending. In practice, it comes with conditions, maintenance requirements, and expiry risks that most people discover too late.
