# SettleWell
> Helping immigrants find their place in the UK

## About
SettleWell helps UK immigrants track their settlement progress, discover faster pathways to ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain), and access personalized resources. Built by immigrants, for immigrants.

## Core Features
- Settlement progress tracking with ILR countdown and early application date alerts
- Alternative visa pathway recommendations (Spouse, Global Talent, Innovator) with interactive simulator
- English language exemption detection for UK degree holders
- Personalised resource hub (visa, housing, healthcare, employment)
- Continuous residence absence tracking with rolling 180-day calculation
- UK Sponsor License search with AI-powered company insights
- Job search with visa sponsorship filtering and SOC code compliance
- Family visa tracking and management dashboard
- UK anniversary celebrations with social sharing
- Visa expiry reminders and email notifications
- Salary calculator with July 2025 thresholds, pension contributions, and visa eligibility
- Ask AI assistant — instant answers to visa, salary, sponsor, and settlement questions
- Community Insights — curated Q&As from UK immigration Reddit communities
- PathFinder — guided visa route recommendation tool
- Local-only mode for privacy-first users (no account required)
- Progressive Web App — installable, offline-capable

## Ask AI Assistant
SettleWell's built-in AI assistant answers immigration questions instantly using a hybrid approach:
- Sponsor search (live Home Office data lookup)
- FAQ matching (deterministic answers for common questions)
- Salary calculations (tax, NI, pension, visa threshold checks)
- SOC code lookups (occupation-specific going rates)
- Travel queries (absence tracking integration)
- General immigration guidance (LLM-powered for complex questions)
- Lawyer referral for sensitive legal topics

## Salary Calculator
Free UK salary calculator built for visa holders:
- Calculates take-home pay with tax, NI, student loan, and pension
- Checks visa sponsorship eligibility against July 2025 thresholds (£41,700 general, £33,400 new entrant)
- Supports ~150 SOC codes with occupation-specific going rates
- Decimal pension contribution input (e.g., 4.5%, 3.82%)

## Unique Value Proposition
Unlike generic immigration calculators, SettleWell:
- Accounts for visa switches (Student → Skilled Worker → 10-year route)
- Shows 10-year long residence route as universal fallback
- Calculates both time in UK vs time on settlement visa
- Tracks contribution discounts (April 2026 changes)
- Searches verified Home Office sponsor license data (updated weekly)
- Provides AI-powered answers without needing to leave the platform

## Real User Problems Solved
- "When am I eligible for ILR?" → Exact date calculator with early application alert
- "Are there faster routes?" → Alternative pathway analysis with simulator
- "Do I need English test?" → UK degree exemption checker
- "How much will this cost?" → Visa cost projections
- "Does this company sponsor visas?" → Live sponsor search with company insights
- "How do I track my family's visas?" → Family dashboard
- "What's my take-home pay?" → Salary calculator with visa threshold check
- "Can I ask a quick question?" → Ask AI assistant with instant answers
- "What are others experiencing?" → Community insights from Reddit

## Target Users
- Skilled Worker visa holders
- Student and Graduate visa holders
- Spouse/Partner visa applicants
- Global Talent route applicants
- Health and Care Worker visa holders
- Anyone on the path to UK settlement

## Key Pathways Covered
- 3-year routes: Global Talent, Innovator Founder, £100K+ earners
- 5-year routes: Skilled Worker, Spouse/Partner, NHS workers
- 10-year routes: Long residence, contribution-based discounts

## Public Tools (No Account Required)
- Sponsor Checker: https://settlewell.uk/check-sponsors
- Salary Calculator: https://settlewell.uk/tools/salary-calculator
- PathFinder: https://settlewell.uk/pathfinder
- Community Insights: https://settlewell.uk/insights

## Technology
- Progressive Web App (installable on mobile)
- Offline-capable with cached data
- Real-time settlement calculations
- Email reminders for visa expiry
- AI-powered assistant (hybrid local + LLM)

## Contact
- Website: https://settlewell.uk
- Email: hello@settlewell.uk
- Founder: Sidiq

## Legal
This tool provides guidance only. Always consult a licensed immigration advisor for official advice.