You do not need a Social Security Number to get a prepaid phone plan.
“I just moved to the US and want to sign up for US Mobile. Do I need an SSN to get a prepaid phone plan, and what documents do carriers ask a newcomer for?”
Summary
You can get connected right away. Because prepaid plans do not typically require a credit check, you can sign up for US Mobile just by paying for your minutes upfront.
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What carriers ask for
For a prepaid plan, carriers do not ask for an SSN or US credit history documents. You simply pay for your minutes or data at the time of agreement.
This changes if you apply for a {"term": "postpaid-plan", "text": "postpaid service"} instead. Postpaid plans usually require a credit check. If you try to open a postpaid plan without an SSN, the carrier will likely ask for a large deposit.
Next steps
All major US cell phone providers offer prepaid wireless plans. Here is how it works:
Obtain a prepaid SIM card
Get a SIM card from a prepaid provider. US Mobile and Mint Mobile are common options for newcomers.
Pay for your plan upfront
You pay for an agreed-upon number of minutes or data at the time you make the agreement.
Activate and reload
After you use the minutes you purchased, you buy more to keep using your phone.
Legal sources
These rules come from university international student offices explaining US cell phone services.
Indiana University Phone Guide
Prepaid phone plans generally do not require a credit check or a deposit.
This option does not typically require a credit check or a deposit.
Indiana University Phone Guide
You activate a prepaid plan by paying for your minutes upfront at the time you agree to the service.
When you buy prepaid wireless service, a provider makes an agreed-upon number of minutes available to your cell phone. You pay for those minutes at the time of agreement.
Harvard HIO Phone Guide
If you sign up for a standard phone plan without an SSN, you usually have to pay a large deposit.
If you want to purchase a cell (mobile) phone plan without an SSN, you may have to make a sizable deposit.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm with a licensed immigration attorney.
SettleKit is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice.
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