Phone Usage FAQs
Can AFS-USA participants use their own international mobile phones with American SIM cards, or do they usually need to get a new phone?
If you already have a cellphone from your home country, you can most likely get a new service plan and use a SIM card to obtain a U.S. number. Before leaving your home country, speak to your current service provider to ensure your current phone is unlocked and can support an American SIM card. If the phone stays locked, then you may have to purchase a new phone as it cannot support a SIM card on a new provider.
The most recommended SIM cards for students include:
- T-Mobile
- AT&T
- Verizon
- Lycamobile
- Holafly
- Black Wireless
European phones are generally “unlocked,” so it is possible to change the SIM card. The best SIM card to get is “Prepaid, No Contract.” This is when there is a set time limit, no contract and no monthly bill. Here is a useful website to check if a hosted participant’s mobile phone will work in the USA.
If you choose to buy a new phone, know many US phones are also originally sold with a “lock” on its software, which means it can only be used with a certain carrier (i.e. Verizon, AT&T etc.). If a phone is “locked”, it won’t work with a new SIM card from another country installed.
What recommendations would you have for hosted participants when considering the phone service provider?
When purchasing a pre-paid SIM card or cell phone, consider how much data you usually use and compare the costs of different brands and options. Also, do research into different options and consider how long students will be on program. Here’s an example. Also consider what a provider's coverage is in the community, this is something you can ask about soon after arrival.
If the hosted participant cannot get a SIM Card, can the hosted participants get a phone subscription in their name and be billed directly, or does the host family need to get the subscription for them under their name?
No, only people aged 18 years or older can sign up for cell phone plans. Cell phone plans are usually 2 year contracts, with bills paid monthly. Cancelling a contract is very expensive. Host Families are discouraged from adding AFS students to their “family plan” as issues with costly/excessive monthly bills could become a problem.
Is it possible for hosted participants to get pre-paid subscriptions?
YES. If a student cannot change the SIM card, they should consider buying an affordable pre-paid, no contract phone. They can also purchase refill cards for pre-paid phones.
What pre-paid phone service providers are most commonly used by hosted participants?
“AT&T Prepaid”, “Verizon Prepaid”, “T-Mobile Prepaid”, “Visible Unlimited”, “Mint Mobile Unlimited”, “Cricket Wireless”, and “Tello Economy” are common brands for affordable pre-paid phones.
Will my host family have a landline in the home that I can use?
It is not as common for American families to have a landline because of the growth of cellphones. Please check with your host family before arriving to the U.S. if they have a landline, how to use it, if it is possible to make international calls and how much would you have to reimburse them for making these calls.
If you would like to communicate with friends and family in your home country, but do NOT have a mobile phone, then you should first purchase an affordable prepaid calling card.
Prepaid calling cards are the best way to call long distance when using your host family’s landline telephone.
If you do NOT use a prepaid calling card, then you should reimburse your host family for any long distance or international calls. Be sure to ask your host family about their expectations and rules about phone use in the home.