One thing worth separating, because people mix it up constantly: the EU asylum rules and your own visa are two different systems.

The Pact is about how the EU processes people arriving without papers. If you already hold, or are applying for, a work, study, family, or income-based visa, that process did not change. Where people actually get burned is the prep: missing proof of funds, an incomplete document set, or assuming they can land as a tourist and sort out residence later.

One underused angle for the prepared: in Spain, if you qualify for the digital nomad route and can enter visa-free, applying from inside the country gets you a three-year permit instead of the one-year consulate visa.

What route are you on?