Before you start

An unlocked handset, or an eSIM-capable one
A US address for postpaid, but not for prepaid
A payment method — prepaid accepts foreign cards, postpaid usually does not

Step-by-step

1
Activate an eSIM before flying, or buy prepaid on arrival
A US eSIM activates before you land so you have a working number immediately for rides, deliveries and bank verification codes. No identity registration is required at any point.
OnlineWho: YouDay 1
2
Check your handset is unlocked and band-compatible
Phones bought on contract abroad are frequently locked, and US band combinations trip up some regional models. With 3G shut down there is no fallback network to land on.
OnlineWho: You
3
Start prepaid rather than fighting a credit check
Postpaid runs a credit check. With no US file you will be declined or asked for a deposit. Prepaid has no check and is usually cheaper for the same data allowance.
OnlineWho: You
4
Leave Wireless Emergency Alerts switched on
The federal alerting system pushes hurricane warnings, tornado warnings and evacuation notices to every handset in an affected area without any subscription. It is on by default and people turn it off because it is loud. In a coastal Florida county, leave it on.
Mobile appWho: YouBefore hurricane season
5
Plan for the network degrading, not failing
In a serious storm the towers usually stay up but run on generators, and congestion makes voice calls fail while text messages still get through. Keep a charged power bank, save the numbers you would need offline, and agree with family abroad that SMS is the fallback.
Mobile appWho: You
6
Port rather than cancel if you switch later
Number portability is a legal right and works between carriers and MVNOs. Request the port from the new carrier — never cancel the old service first, or you lose the number.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport for postpaid; nothing at all for prepaid
US address for postpaid
A payment card — prepaid usually accepts foreign cards, postpaid rarely does

Things most newcomers don’t know

The credit check is the barrier, not the documentation.

Carriers check credit before offering postpaid, and a newcomer with no file gets declined or charged a deposit. Prepaid sidesteps it entirely and usually costs less for the same data.

Source: community-reported

The US has no SIM registration at all.

Most countries in this app require passport registration to activate a SIM. The US requires nothing whatsoever for prepaid — you can buy one in a supermarket and be online in minutes.

Source: FCC — consumer guides

In a storm, texts get through when calls do not.

Congestion, not tower failure, is usually what breaks communication in a hurricane. SMS is far more resilient than voice because it needs a fraction of the capacity. Agreeing this with people abroad in advance saves a lot of anxiety on both sides.

Source: FCC — consumer guides

Device financing survives cancelling the plan.

A phone bought on a carrier instalment plan stays owed even if you leave, and leaving early can accelerate the balance. If your stay is uncertain, buy the handset outright and use a cheap prepaid plan.

Source: FCC — consumer guides

Common mistakes to avoid

Applying for postpaid with no credit file and facing a large deposit.
Bringing a carrier-locked handset from abroad and discovering it on arrival.
Turning off Wireless Emergency Alerts because they are loud, then missing an evacuation notice.
Cancelling the old carrier before requesting the port, and losing the number.
Assuming fibre is available because it is available two streets over — check the address.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

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