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
Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts and add a radar app
Tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings and flash flood warnings arrive on the handset through the federal alert system, and North Texas gets all three heavily. Check the alert settings are enabled — some are on by default and some are not — and add a radar app that pushes warnings for your county.
Mobile appWho: YouWeek 1
5
Find your shelter and learn the county siren schedule
In a house that means the lowest floor, an interior room away from windows. In an apartment it may mean an interior corridor or a ground-floor neighbour. Fort Worth and Tarrant County test outdoor warning sirens on a published schedule; know when the test is so you can tell it apart from the real thing.
In personWho: You
6
Keep a power bank and know your carrier's outage behaviour
Texas's grid is largely disconnected from the rest of the country and cannot import much power in a crisis, which is what made the February 2021 freeze so severe. Mobile sites have battery backup measured in hours, not days. A charged power bank and a car charger are standard local preparedness.
In personWho: You
7
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

A tornado went through downtown Fort Worth. This is not an abstract risk.

On 28 March 2000 a tornado tracked directly through the central business district, blowing out the windows of the tallest buildings. North Texas sits in an extremely active severe-weather corridor and warning lead times are measured in minutes, which is why wireless emergency alerts and a radar app are the practical setup rather than a precaution. The people who get hurt are usually the ones who silenced the alerts.

Source: National Weather Service — Fort Worth

Texas's grid isolation is a phone-charging problem too.

ERCOT covers most of Texas and has only limited connections to the rest of the North American grid, so a Texas shortage cannot be substantially covered by imports. During the February 2021 freeze that meant multi-day outages, and mobile sites run on batteries measured in hours. A power bank in the drawer is the cheapest insurance available here.

Source: community-reported

Fibre availability in the northern suburbs is patchier than the marketing suggests.

Fort Worth's growth is largely northward into new estates, and 'fibre-ready' in a development brochure often means conduit rather than service. Check the FCC's broadband map for the actual address before signing a lease, because the difference between a fibre street and a cable-only street matters for anyone working from home.

Source: FCC — National Broadband Map

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

Common mistakes to avoid

Silencing weather alerts after one loud test, in an active tornado corridor.
Applying for postpaid with no credit file and facing a large deposit.
Bringing a carrier-locked handset from abroad and discovering it on arrival.
Assuming fibre is available at a new-build address because the estate advertises it.
Cancelling the old carrier before requesting the port, and losing the number.

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