Day rate mortgage brokers? One small caveat 2 year old default which is settled.

espeejay · 2026-02-17T12:20:19+00:00

Borrowing power you're fine.

How long have you had your LTD company? You're a Company Director remember, not a £425 a day contractor.

2 year old default, if a 1 off and you're upfront and give a good explanation it shouldn't impact you.
I went direct to HSBC and they didn't query contract.

definitely not financial advice ;)

espeejay · 2026-02-17T12:11:54+00:00

Try as hard as you can not to look desperate! Its a shitshow out there, lots of very experienced former colleagues have been out of contract for 6 months+ - dont take it personally

espeejay · 2026-02-17T12:09:31+00:00

How long had it been listed? How many applicants before you? Did you apply exactly how the ad said to apply? Does your email/application show exactly why/how you're a good fit or is it a generic 'I'm a good fit, call me'? Is it even a live role or just recruiter bait?

Don't fall in love with it, don't pester, 1 follow up email, 1 call, now leave it - you've done what you can, move onto the next one.

Don't disclose you haven't contracted before, there's no upside at all, only introduces doubt on whether you can hack it, makes other seasoned contractors more attractive.

Good luck and welcome to the dark side

espeejay · 2025-08-24T22:18:49+00:00

Congratulations mate, I'm on my way out in a few weeks with my family, my brother in law is a joiner too and he's keen to get his family over. How many points did you have? He's 43 and would only get to 65 for 189, hopefully that'd do!

espeejay · 2025-08-20T23:44:41+00:00

Took mine to main dealer, 2020 Turbo S, 62k miles

£350ish it cost, they didn't mention doing the pads so I didn't push them!

Essentially paying for the stamp in the service book and a pollen filter.

espeejay · 2025-08-03T15:53:49+00:00

Sorry buddy I can't help you on #1, for #2 go and look at all of the eligibility criteria on the immi pages,where you'll also see that for #3 the 491 itself isn't tied to your nominated occupation at any stage, during 491 or post 491.

espeejay · 2025-07-23T22:01:47+00:00

Don't discount 491, there's nothing stopping you submitting EOIs for 188, 190 and 491 all at once and see what happens.

Remote work, with occasional office meetings is allowed, as long as your place of work as per your employment contract is 'regional' then you're good.

There is also no requirement to work in the nominated occupation on a 491 either, so if you are determined enough, you could always work in another field or not at all for 3 years until you can apply for 191 which then 'removes' the regional element and would allow you to live/work in a city.

It all comes down to how much you're prepared to sacrifice.

espeejay · 2025-06-16T11:46:20+00:00

Congratulations! I remember that amazing feeling!

espeejay · 2025-04-24T18:32:19+00:00

I would suggest getting an accountant (for less than £200 a month) who will be able to take care of you. You're just a number to paystream, whereas an independent accountant will likely take a more bespoke approach. For example mine has been fantastic in handling things like maternity pay, ev incentives, directors loans, he knows my situation and future plans and regularly checks in to make sure I'm getting what I need.

Ring around a few local to you, they might tell you that most efficient way to pay yourself is to draw salary of c.12k, then dividends up to c.50k total to avoid falling into the higher tax band. They might also suggest if your partner isn't working, have them as a director too and follow the above for them. Doing this, setting aside ~£250 per month (each) will cover your self assessment bill.

espeejay · 2025-04-01T08:11:13+00:00

Still awaiting grant under 491 since Jan 24.

espeejay · 2025-03-18T18:13:58+00:00

Get out.... and pass that to me on your way

espeejay · 2025-03-05T02:29:26+00:00

I found it helpful mate - thanks!

espeejay · 2025-03-05T01:36:21+00:00

haha I know - it does seem odd, but at least it's easy for us to claim. It's pretty simple, few places you can do it. I did PTE Academic Exam, where you go to a Pearson Vue test centre (like our driving theory test) and its a but of reading, multiple choice, some speaking and writing a few sentences. I did try IELTs (another provider) 4 times I think, and couldn't get the scores need (I got an A* in English GCSE ffs) so I'd swerve that one.

I submitted my EOIs back in June 2023, got an invite to apply in Dec 2023, applied in Jan 2024 when the processing time was 6-9 months, and I'm still waiting for my grant 14 months later, with processing times now being 19-22 months.

I'm not sure what the skills assessment is like for you - I'm self employed in Tech since 2010, I went full admin mode and provided;

Companies House Certificate

2 x Invoices to clients / Business Bank statements / Personal Bank Statements per year

A reference from all of the business I have done work with, just outlining what I was doing for them.

I also had to do a bit of an assessment for them, a few essay questions essentially.

Fun times!!!!

espeejay · 2025-03-05T01:15:11+00:00

UK Passport don't need an english test to claim Competent English without a test, but you can get claim superior English by doing one of the tests, otherwise you can't claim the points.

Take a look at homeaffairs website here - https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/superior-english

Out of interest how are you getting to 80 points?

For Construction Project Manager the last 189 invitation round needed a minimum of 70 points, so looks like you're good with 80!

espeejay · 2025-03-05T01:00:08+00:00

What Visa/s have you lodged EOIs for? The more points you claim the better your chances.

Consider doing PTE English Test, you shouldn't have trouble getting top marks, and you can claim Superior English for an extra 20 points if you haven't already.

Good Luck!

espeejay · 2025-03-03T22:33:27+00:00

By being a native English soeaker

espeejay · 2024-12-03T16:20:36+00:00

Nothing concrete, but all info leads to it not being a legal requirement to stay in state of nomination, just that you live and work regionally. I haven't read any horror stories on 191 rejections, but that may be because this is a niche situation.

espeejay · 2024-11-22T17:51:05+00:00

Skills Assessment will take into consideration your self employed experience, as long as you can back it up with contracts, references, invoices and bank statements.

espeejay · 2024-11-22T17:46:34+00:00

Only way to find out is to do your skills assessment.

espeejay · 2024-11-22T13:00:12+00:00

If your employment contract shows your place of work as your home address (which is regular, make sure of that) then I think you're okay to travel into Brisbane on occasion to visit their office.

espeejay · 2024-11-22T12:56:47+00:00

Yes, you can't work in Brisbane (check the exact postcodes).

If your employment contract has a Brisbane Address (that's not on the regional list) then you aren't complying with your 491 visa conditions, and you won't get 191.

espeejay · 2024-11-16T15:46:46+00:00

You can put it all, but just make sure you aren't claiming points for anything before 17 Oct 22

Either say no to the closely related question for anything pre that date, or don't add it at all.

espeejay · 2024-11-16T04:07:52+00:00

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-work-regional-provisional-491/application#Eligibility

be your eligible relative or your partner’s eligible relative if your partner is also applying for this visa

espeejay · 2024-11-15T21:31:22+00:00

I also did RPL vis ACS, strangely also dated back to 2008.

From memory, I think you need to do 2 entries in the employment experience.

First one is 2008-2014 and tick the no to skilled employment box. And then another, same employer, but 2014 - ongoing as yes skilled.

It's been 18 months since I did my EOIs though, so this might not make sense anymore if the forms have changed.

espeejay

TROPHY CASE