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Seeking advice from US Expats in PT - keep US mobile nbr for 2FA purposes

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Posts: 3

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Jun 24, 2021 3:51 pm

(@tanya-rainey40gmail-com)

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Joined: 9 months ago

While I wait patiently for my D7 visa to be approved I’m hoping for some recommendations to what seems to be an issue for those who remain abroad longer than 6 months when it comes to maintaining your US mobile nbr for two-factor authentications, which is needed to verify identity accessing financial services in America.

It feels as if I’ve scoured the depths of the internet (ever go down that rabbit hole?!) but nothing clear cut. I’ve read many go with Google Voice, other suggestions were iPlum, OpenPhone, Number Barn. The problem is majority are VoIP services, not many financial services will send the verification text to the voice over IP network. Such tricky business. Anyway, I think my brain is overloaded with content on this topic, reaching out to the lovely expat community here for any tips.
Thank you,
Tanya

Topic Tags

Need advice maintain us number Moving to Portugal

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Posts: 6

kevin.wilson

Premium Member

Jul 13, 2021 9:35 pm

(@kevin-wilson)

Active Member

Joined: 6 months ago

I have an IPhone X. I called T-Mobile to transfer my number to the eSim, which is a digital version of a SIM inside the phone. I then popped the T-Mobile SIM out and replaced it with a MEO one. Now I have two phone numbers in one phone.

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Premium Member

(@tanya-rainey40gmail-com)

Joined: 9 months ago

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Posts: 3

Jul 13, 2021 10:00 pm

Reply to

kevin.wilson

@kevin-wilson thank you! That’s a terrific suggestion and will look into this option. I presume T-Mobile won’t suspend the eSim after an extended period of time in Europe/outside the US?

RebeccaJoy

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(@rebeccajoy)

Joined: 9 months ago

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Posts: 5

Aug 05, 2021 5:32 pm

Reply to

kevin.wilson

@kevin-wilson hi so im leaving in 10 days to come to Portugal. Do you continue to pay your Tmobile account? and how much do you pay monthly to maintain the number? I got a lyca mobile US number and wonder about how to keep a US number for banking and login verifications. the phone I have has 2 SIM card slots.

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MaxG

Premium Member

Jul 14, 2021 10:04 am

(@maxgravy)

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Joined: 1 year ago

We got new phones from MEO and keep our old T-mobile phones at home in airplane mode. They’re connected to wi-fi and work just fine for texting and wi-fi calling. Been over 3 months now and no issues.

I also got an openphone account with a US number and unlimited calls and texts to the US. $10/month. It’s an app on my Portugal iphone so can use it anywhere.

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Premium Member

(@tanya-rainey40gmail-com)

Joined: 9 months ago

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Posts: 3

Jul 14, 2021 10:11 am

Reply to

MaxG

@maxgravy excellent, T-Mobile seems the way to go. Thanks so much!

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