Questione giuridica chiave
Whether the settlement permit had lapsed due to a stay abroad exceeding six months.
Decisione estratta
Yes. The appellant stayed abroad uninterrupted for more than six months without filing an extension request, so the settlement permit expired by operation of law.
Motivazione estratta
Under Art. 61(2) AuG, the motives for leaving and subjective intent are irrelevant. The appellant's own written account showed a foreign stay from mid-September 2013 to late August 2014, and his contradictory position could not prevail.