Questão jurídica principal
Whether the residence permit had expired because the appellant’s centre of life was abroad or because of absence from Switzerland.
Decisão extraída
The permit had expired; the pattern of repeated and lengthy stays abroad showed that Switzerland was not the appellant’s main place of life.
Fundamentação extraída
Under Art. 61 AuG, the permit expires absolutely after deregistration or after six months abroad. Motive and subjective intent are irrelevant. The travel pattern and family ties in Nigeria indicated a foreign centre of life.