Hello ghunter! One of the more senior members may correct me on this one, but I think, if your partner is already there and has a visa up until september, you should apply for inland. That way, if your partner also sends off an Open Work Permit application at the same time, he should get his permit in time for september and can continue working! The whole process will take longer, but it shouldn't matter too much and as your application is processing your partner has "Implied Status" meaning no need for him to head back to Caledonia! Of course, there are downsides to this. The biggest one being that there is no right of appeal for an inland application! So you'll have to make sure your case is watertight! Did you have any plans to get married at all?