I'm moving to Seattle from the UK and want to keep my current phone. Are SIM-only plans easily available with good data per month that aren't too expensive?
Yes, you can easily get an affordable, high-data SIM-only plan without a US credit history by choosing a prepaid carrier. The only hurdle is making sure your specific UK phone model has the right antennas for US networks.
You can get connected right away without a Social Security number or a credit check. Because prepaid plans run on advance payment, you just pay for your first month upfront and skip the financial background checks entirely.
Traditional postpaid phone plans usually require a US credit check and a Social Security number. If you do not have them, carriers often demand a sizable deposit to start service.
You can bypass this entirely by choosing a prepaid plan or an MVNO. These carriers commonly support BYOD with SIM-only options. Because you pay for your service upfront at the beginning of the month, they typically do not require a credit check.
These prepaid options are widely available and generally less expensive than major carrier contracts. They offer high data limits, including unlimited options. You should know that unlimited plans often have soft caps where your data speeds slow down after you use a certain amount of data.
The main catch is your phone's hardware. Your UK phone must be unlocked to accept a new SIM. Even if it is unlocked, international models may lack certain LTE or 5G bands used in the US, which can limit your speeds or coverage. For example, European phones often lack Band 71, a frequency used for rural US coverage. While your phone will likely work fine in a major city like Seattle, coverage might suffer when you leave the city. You also must have VoLTE enabled, because the US has shut down its older 3G networks.
