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?
You do not need a Social Security Number to get a prepaid phone plan.
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.
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.
