When my wife and I moved to Mexico, we kept our T-Mobile /US numbers.

A potential way around this is to open a Google Voice . A US number that’ll accept text messages is assigned.

Good luck!

 

One SimCard may be an option.

 

Hi
There are plenty of voip apps for iPhone & Android that give you a phone number in the country of your choice.
We have a UK number through Devyce - that is ed with our UK bank.
Cheers
Steve

 

During my working years I kept my U.S. cell number through AT&T. The plan I was on included all calls to the U.S., Mexico and Canada in the monthly service fee. But that fee was ridiculous, nearly $90 USD. It was fine while I was working since I could deduct for tax purposes. But once I retired, I had to make a change. So now I have a Telcel phone with a Mexican phone number.

However, I was able to transfer my old AT&T number to Google Voice. So now I have the Google Voice app on my Telcel phone, and can get voice calls and text messages to either my old AT&T number, or my new Mexican phone number.

Having said that, I recently had issues with one of the U.S. companies I do some business with. Every time I tried to log onto their site, they said they were sending me a text message, but I never got one. Eventually I called and found out that they won't send text messages to VOIP numbers for "security reasons."

That was only one company, and after I spoke with their rep, they did agree to send text messages to that number for me. Otherwise I have not had any issues. The people in the U.S. who have my old number are still able to call or send messages to that number. And I have much better data access now.

Bottom line is, you can get a Google Voice U.S. number, and generally speaking, get text messages from banks and other places on that number.

 

I use a Dual SIM phone, SIM 1 is for a local provider's Sim for voice and data, Sim 2 is for a Google Fi that is for voice, and SMS/text, it has data available - but if you use continually for 90 days outside US they will disconnect it. Its global data, so it works everywhere in the world - so you can turn on at any point you need data and use while you are waiting to put a local SIM in SIM slot when out of local provider plan.
It works with all US govt and financial institutions, it is a US cell phone number. Costs $25 a month have been using in Mexico and globally for last7 years without any issues.
You port your US cell number to Google Fi, they send you a new Sim with that number on it, you activate in the US - your US cell can send and receive from anywhere in the world (except the usual place China, Russia, Cuba, N Korea etc.)

 

I have a similar situation which I solved with a new (separate phone...an iPhone) and Mint Mobile service. You will have to pay for the service (local US service), but with the phone on wifi calling, all texts and calls come through without paying for roaming (though the phone must also be set to roaming). I receive texts from my US bank without issue. You can turn on international roaming for a day, 3 days or 10 days, but since I figured out the wifi calling method, I haven't had to. The iPhone is under my same apple ID as my Aussie mobile, which allows me to receive texts and calls on both (for both my Aussie and US numbers). The one caveat is that you have to activate the Mint mobile service from the US.

 

I would expect the success of this is due to setting it up in the US with setting set on wifi calling and set to roaming - not that you also HAVE to do all that with an iPhone using Mint Mobile. I ask because the way your post is written, there is an inference that this will only work when using iPhone and Mint Mobile

 

I would expect the success of this is due to setting it up in the US with setting set on wifi calling and set to roaming - not that you also HAVE to do all that with an iPhone using Mint Mobile. I ask because the way your post is written, there is an inference that this will only work when using iPhone and Mint Mobile

Yes, I take your point…I didn’t mean to imply that you need an iPhone or Mint Mobile. I was just quickly typing on my phone and using myself as an example.

To be clear, you can do this with any phone and any US mobile service. You are also correct that any US mobile company would require activation in the US.

Point on information: I bought the phone and had it and the service SIM card delivered to my cousin’s house. She set it up and activated it, then sent the phone to me via FedEx.

 

As to your mentioning Mint Mobile, after all their ads, I have never heard an opinion about Mint Mobile until. It sounds like you are happy with them. I don't have Mint Mobile but I have been curious about them