Quick Answer
Before you arrive, a US number in an app is very handy. After you arrive, also get a US mobile line. Before your flight, universities, housing offices and landlords can call a US number easily, and you can call US offices with 300 minutes a month to the US and Canada included. The TripoSIM US Number costs $100 a year and works from home over Wi-Fi. Once you're in the US, a mobile line is still important: the app number can't call 911, and some banks may still refuse internet numbers for codes, even though WhatsApp and popular apps worked in our tests (Oct 2026).
You got the acceptance letter. Now come the forms, and many of them ask for a US phone number. Your housing office wants to call about your room. Your department wants to reach you about orientation. A landlord prefers not to dial abroad.
Here's how to handle phone numbers as an international student, before you fly and after you land, without paying for things you don't need.
Before you arrive: why a US number helps
- Schools and offices call US numbers easily. Admissions, housing, scholarship and international student offices can reach you without international dialling.
- You can call US offices. 300 minutes a month of calls to US and Canadian numbers are included, enough for housing, bank customer service lines and campus offices.
- Voicemail across time zones. When an office calls during your night, they reach your voicemail, and you get a missed-call alert. Messages can be up to 2 minutes long, and you can choose a greeting in one of 18 languages.
- Texts and codes from US senders. You can receive texts from US and Canadian senders. In our tests (Oct 2026), WhatsApp and popular apps such as Google, Microsoft and Apple ID sent their codes to our US numbers.
After you arrive: get a US mobile line too
Once you're in the US, we recommend a US mobile plan as well. Here's why:
- Emergencies. The TripoSIM US Number can't call 911. On campus or anywhere in the US, you need a mobile line for emergencies.
- Bank codes. Some US banks may refuse internet numbers for verification codes. Check with your bank. A mobile number is the safer choice for banking.
- Everyday life. A mobile plan gives you calls, texts and data everywhere, even when there's no Wi-Fi.
For your first days, before you pick a US plan, a USA travel eSIM gives you data from the moment you land.
So where does the app number fit?
| Stage | What works best |
|---|---|
| Months before you fly | TripoSIM US Number for schools, housing and landlords |
| Your first days in the US | A USA travel eSIM for data, plus your app number for calls |
| Living in the US | A US mobile line for 911, bank codes and everyday life |
| Breaks at home, internships abroad | Your app number keeps receiving US calls over the internet |
During summer and winter breaks, many students fly home. A US mobile number then costs roaming, or stops working. Your app number keeps ringing over Wi-Fi or mobile data, so recruiters, landlords and campus offices can still reach you. Incoming calls are included in your plan, with no roaming charges to receive them (fair use up to 300 minutes a month, internet needed).
How to set up your US number before you fly
- Pick a number near your school: on the US Number page, search by your university's state or area code. We hold it for 30 minutes.
- Pay $100 for the year: by card, upfront. A parent's card works too, if they agree.
- Install the TripoSIM app: on iPhone or Android, using our app install guide.
- Allow notifications and the microphone: so calls ring even when your screen is locked.
- Set your voicemail greeting: say your name clearly, so offices know they reached the right person.
- Add the number to your forms: housing, department and scholarship forms that ask for a US number.
TripoSIM US Number
Get a US number before you fly, so your school and landlord can reach you. $100 a year, with 300 minutes a month to the US and Canada. Choose your US number →
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You don't need a second phone, before or after you fly:
- Line 1: your home SIM, for family, WhatsApp and bank codes from home.
- Line 2: your data: home Wi-Fi, then any US eSIM or SIM once you land. A TripoSIM travel eSIM is a good option for the first days, but any data plan works.
- Line 3: your TripoSIM US number in the app.
The US number works with any SIM, any eSIM and any Wi-Fi.
What it costs
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | $100 a year, about $8.33 a month |
| Calls out | 300 minutes a month included, to US and Canadian numbers only |
| Calls in | Included, fair use up to 300 minutes a month |
| Voicemail, missed-call alerts, caller blocking | Included |
| Texts | Receive from US and Canadian senders (sending not included) |
| Extra minutes | 100 for $5 |
| Verification codes | WhatsApp and popular apps tested and working (Oct 2026). Some banks may refuse. |
| Welcome gift | $5 TripoSIM credit for eSIM data, eSIM top-ups or extra US minutes |
The welcome credit can help with your arrival data. Read more in our eSIM guide for students studying abroad, or see our student page.
Honest limits
- No 911 or emergency calls.
- Verification codes: banks vary. WhatsApp and popular apps such as Google, Apple ID, PayPal and Upwork sent their codes to our US numbers in our tests (Oct 2026). Some banks may still refuse internet numbers, so check with your bank. Read will a virtual US number work for verification codes?
- You can't call home with it. Calls out go to US and Canadian numbers only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for family.
- You can't send texts, only receive them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a US number before I arrive?
Not always, but it helps. Many forms ask for one, and offices find it easier to call a US number.
Can I call my family at home with it?
No. Calls out go to US and Canadian numbers only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or your home SIM.
Should I still get a US SIM when I arrive?
Yes. You need a mobile line for 911, and some banks prefer a mobile number for codes.
Can I use it to open a US bank account?
Some banks may refuse internet numbers for codes, so check with your bank. A US mobile number is the safer choice for banking.
What happens when I graduate?
You can keep the number by renewing each year, or cancel the renewal. If the plan ends, the number is kept for 30 days and then released. Read can you keep your US number when you travel or move countries?
The bottom line
Get a US number in the app before you fly so your school, housing office and landlord can reach you. Once you land, add a US mobile line for 911 and bank codes, and keep the app number for breaks at home. Choose your US number by your school's area code. Planning the trip itself? Read the eSIM + US number kit for your USA trip.
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