Almost every single European country requires you to leave the country in order to apply for a new visa status, which is what is happening here in the USA.
replyIn SE Asia there's a whole cottage travel industry taking business and tourist visa holders on a quick trip out of the border in order to return to renew their visa (of course you can also pay for this service under the table).
> Almost every single European country requires you to leave the country in order to apply for a new visa status.
replyThis is not the case for transitioning from a temporary residence permit to a permanent residence permit, which is the best analogue to the USA’s Green Card. In most European countries, you do that within the country.