I can only speak for German and Swiss work visas, but my experience is that they are very different than US work visas. The systems feel very much like you are

I can only speak for German and Swiss work visas, but my experience is that they are very different than US work visas. The systems feel very much like you are being treated as a guest. Yes, there are rules but the rules are fair. You lost your job? Well, you’ve been paying taxes, so you’re entitled to all the benefits that any other tax payer gets. You lost your job? Well, you can take contract work in your field until you get a job? You want to change your visa type? You can do that without leaving the country? You want to visit you family back in the USA for three months? Sure, family is important. So are vacations. So yeah, it’s really different.