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JFH

Taking my iPhone with me

By JFH in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

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JFH Grand Master

JFH   12,190

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

Apologies if this has been asked before.

I have an unlocked iPhone. The current plan I have allows me to use it in the USA when I visit at no additional charge (but there is a restriction on how much and for how long - it is intended for visits, not for people living in the US). When I move I plan to take it with me and not have to buy a new one. Since it's unlocked, I thought I could just get a SIM from anywhere and put it in. But I've heard that carriers in the US use different frequencies. Is that right?

Has anyone here taken an unlocked phone and successfully got it to work with a local SIM? Which carrier is best for this?

I really don't know much about technology so I'm very confused after doing some googling.

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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JFH Grand Master

JFH   12,190

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Oh what happened recently that stopped it working?

Or do you mean you recently changed to a different phone?

Edited by JFH

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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mlh Enthusiast

mlh   93

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

My husband brought his unlocked 6+ with him from the UK and we got an AT&T SIM and it worked no problem.

Mar 2014 - Married

5/7/14?? - Attorney mailed paperwork

5/15/14 DHS cashed check

5/19/14 - NOA1 received with PD 5/12/14

10/17/14 - NOA2 received

10/28/14 - Email received that file has been sent to NVC

11/13/14 - NVC received file

12/10/14 - NVC Assigned case number

12/12/14 - AOS Fee Invoiced

12/13/14 - Submit email to NVC to remove attorney as DS-261 Agent

12/16/14 - AOS Fee showing as Paid

12/17/14 - IV Fee invoiced

12/20/14 - IV fee available and paid

12/27/14 - DS-260 submitted

1/2/15 - AOS and IV packages sent to NVC

1/5/15 - USPS delivered packages to NVC

1/7/15 - NVC scanned in packages. Let the countdown begin...

1/30/15 - FINALLY got a reply to my email to remove the attorney from the DS-261

3/9/15 - Called NVC and they have checklisted us for an "incorrect" decree absolute from the UK, even though it is the legal official document. Have requested a supervisor review.

4/28/15 - Called and NVC said supervisor had reviewed and now claimed that the decree absolute was not included. After disagreeing with the less than helpful lady on the phone, and her not being able to get the review time right. (She kept changing her story between 42 days and 30 days).

4/30/15 - Sent the same copy of the decree absolute to the NVC from the UK, highlighting the "decree absolute" wording with a letter stating that this is the only document provided by the UK government.

5/6/15 - Scan date for checklist received.

6/5/15 - Case complete!!!

6/12/15 - Called and interview is scheduled for July 1!

6/14/15 - Received email with interview date and instructions.

6/19/15 - Case showing as ready on CEAC.

7/1/15 - Approved at interview!!!

7/6/15 - CEAC changed to Administrative Processing

7/7/15 - CEAC changed to Issued!!!!!

7/10/15 - Passport and packet delivered!

7/29/15 - Husband entered with visa at Dallas/Fort Worth airport

9/29/15 - GC delivered!!!

5/4/17 - ROC packet sent via USPS

5/9/17 - Tracking shows delivered

5/17/17 - Check cashed

5/19/17 - NOA1 received with date of 5/8/17

5/27/17 - Biometrics appt received 6/8/17

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JFH Grand Master

JFH   12,190

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

My husband brought his unlocked 6+ with him from the UK and we got an AT&T SIM and it worked no problem.

Thanks!!

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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Derbo/Yamkins Explorer

Derbo/Yamkins   4

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

According to an AT&T personnel I spoke with before, even if you don't unlock it, it should work perfectly fine as they are quad-bands. All you need to do is pop-in a sim card and you're good to go.

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caliliving Proficient

caliliving   606

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

You can use either AT&T or TMOBILE as they are the only US providers with SIM cards. So yes, check out both and depending where you live Tmobile is cheaper, but its not in every area:)

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Ash.1101 Experienced

Ash.1101   1,756

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

My fiance brought his Samsung Galaxy, he unlocked it at the ATT store since he had the code from his prior carrier. There was no problem getting him on my plan with ATT. He simply unlocked it, they put in a new SIM card and it was good to go!

*More detailed timeline in profile!*
 
Relationship:     Friends since 2010, Together since 2013

 K-1:   2015 Done in 208 days - 212g for Second Cosponsor    

Spoiler

04/27/15- NOA1 Recieved                                                    
06/02/15 - NOA2 Recieved
09/22/15 - Interview       (221g for more documents (a SECOND cosponsor), see profile for more details!)                                            
11/09/15 -  ISSUED!!                                                              
11/10/15 - Passport received                                                
02/20/16 - Wedding!              

                                         
 AOS:   2016 Done in 77 days - No RFE, No Interview                                                                    

Spoiler

04/08/16 - I-485, I-765, I-131 AOS Application recieved by USCIS
04/12/16 - 3 NOA1's received in mail
05/14/16 - Biometrics for AOS and EAD
06/27/16 - I-485 Case to changed to "New Card being produced"  (Day 77)
06/27/16 - I-485 Case changed to Approved! (Day 77)
06/30/16 - I-485 Case changed to "My Card has been mailed to me!"
07/05/16 - Green Card received in mail! 
 


ROC:   2018 - 2019 Done in 326 days - No RFE, No Interview

Spoiler

 

05/09/18 - Mailed out ROC to CSC

05/10/18 - CSC Signed and received ROC package
06/07/28 - NOA1 

06/11/18 - Check cashed

06/15/18 - NOA received in the mail
08/27/18 - 18 month extension received (Courtesy Copy)

09/18/18 - Request for official 18 month extension
10/22/18 - Official 18 month extension received 

02/27/19 - Biometrics waived 

04/29/19 - New card being produced!
05/09/19 - USPS delivered green card! In hand now!

 

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cl4677 Contributor

cl4677   3

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Japan
 Timeline
Posted

Apologies if this has been asked before.

I have an unlocked iPhone. The current plan I have allows me to use it in the USA when I visit at no additional charge (but there is a restriction on how much and for how long - it is intended for visits, not for people living in the US). When I move I plan to take it with me and not have to buy a new one. Since it's unlocked, I thought I could just get a SIM from anywhere and put it in. But I've heard that carriers in the US use different frequencies. Is that right?

Has anyone here taken an unlocked phone and successfully got it to work with a local SIM? Which carrier is best for this?

I really don't know much about technology so I'm very confused after doing some googling.

It depends on which iPhone you have and where you will travel to. iPhones after the 5S (maybe the 5 too) have both CDMA and GSM antennas which means they will be compatible on a majority of carriers all over the world. If you have an earlier iPhone that only had a single antenna, you should check if it's CDMA or GSM and check which carrier at your destination uses those frequency bands.

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Transborderwife Veteran

Transborderwife   4,666

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

You can use either AT&T or TMOBILE as they are the only US providers with SIM cards. So yes, check out both and depending where you live Tmobile is cheaper, but its not in every area:)

Sprint uses SIM cards, cricket, metro pcs

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JFH Grand Master

JFH   12,190

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

It depends on which iPhone you have and where you will travel to. iPhones after the 5S (maybe the 5 too) have both CDMA and GSM antennas which means they will be compatible on a majority of carriers all over the world. If you have an earlier iPhone that only had a single antenna, you should check if it's CDMA or GSM and check which carrier at your destination uses those frequency bands.

This is where I get totally confused. How do I check which antenna it has?

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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