Anyone successful with Highly Skilled Migrant Visa?

Hi all,

I'm planning to make application to the new Tier 1 scheme (formerly highly skilled migrant) shortly so I can live with my boyfriend in the UK.

I wondered if anyone had any experiences/tips from having successfully made a highly skilled migrant application themselves. I've heard its a good idea to use an immigration consultant to prepare your application (which costs more than the actual visa fee!) to ensure your documents are ok etc, but my application is fairly straight forward and I'd wonder what I exactly my 650 pound consultant fee was buying me.

Does anyone have any experience applying under the Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme? If so, did you do it yourself or with help from a consultant?

Also, I had heard that the visa you receive can be post-dated up to 3 months. Is this from the time of issue, or the time of application? Obviously I'm not going to quit my job/give up my flat until I know my visa is approved.but i wondered whether it will be postdated enough to allow me to get my affairs in order before the visa needs to be activated.

Thanks!