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 for the taxi, the landlord and the utility. 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.
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.
OnlineWho: You
4
Leave Wireless Emergency Alerts switched on
WEA carries tornado and flash-flood warnings to every compatible handset in the warned area with no sign-up. In this region a large share of tornadoes occur after dark and are obscured by rain, so the phone alert is often the only warning you get. People disable it after a night-time test and then miss a real one.
Mobile appWho: YouBefore March
5
Register for MLGW outage alerts
Because one utility supplies electricity, gas and water, a single storm can knock out all three functions for a neighbourhood at once. MLGW runs its own outage reporting and notification channel; sign up when you open the account rather than during the outage.
OnlineWho: 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 the number is gone.
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

Tornadoes in this region behave differently from the plains version.

Dixie Alley storms often occur at night, move faster, and are wrapped in rain and hidden by trees and terrain, so the visual cues people expect from television footage are absent. Warning lead times are short. The phone alert, and knowing which interior room you go to, is the entire preparation.

Source: community-reported

One utility means one outage takes out three services.

MLGW supplies electricity, gas and water, so a major storm event can affect all three at once for a neighbourhood, and there is no alternative supplier to switch to. Keeping drinking water and a charged battery pack at home is a more reasonable precaution here than it sounds.

Source: Memphis Light, Gas and Water

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, so day-one connectivity is one of the easiest parts of arriving.

Source: community-reported

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 allowance.

Source: community-reported

Common mistakes to avoid

Turning off Wireless Emergency Alerts after a night-time test in a region where most tornadoes come at night.
Assuming you will see a tornado coming — here they are usually rain-wrapped and dark.
Bringing a carrier-locked handset and discovering it on arrival.
Applying for postpaid with no credit file and facing a large deposit.
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.