Forum Discussion
Unlock devices for foreign carriers
Hello everyone,
I'm really wishing I can jump on gogo next with yearly device upgrades. My issue is that I'm a dual citizen with personal and financial ties to Europe, where I spend 3-4 months out of a year. I have to have a foreign SIM card all year for personal reasons but also for two factor authentication.
I understand the lock policy and the temporary unlocks. But I wonder if there is any way to ask for an exception for a particular foreign carrier in a particular country, and I can produce any documentation that may help.
Gracias
mihelog wrote:
That's a good tip! I was hoping to stick with Androids but maybe it'll have to be iphones. Gracias.
You can do similar with Samsung. You just need to make sure you order the U1 model and not the U. Google also offers financing through their own provider to purchase a SIM unlocked version of a Pixel directly from them.
It shouldn't be hard to meet the SIM Unlocked Policy requirements if you are here 8 months of the year and are a T-Mobile USA customer.
https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/consumer-info/policies/sim-unlock-policy
Exceptions are usually only given to those serving in the US Military. It doesn't hurt to ask though. Have you tried giving Customer Care a call at 611 from your T-Mobile line or by sending a DM to T-Mobile on either Facebook or Twitter.
Thanks for the answer! The issue is that before I pay off the device, which takes a year, I won't be able to use a foreign SIM card. Then if I upgrade every year, I'll never be able to use a SIM card.
You could always pay the device off early and do your upgrading once you return to the US for 8 months. That way, you have that time to pay off the next device and have it SIM unlocked before being away for 4 months again.
Buy directly from the Apple store. You will get the same deals, depending on your plan, and you will get an UNLOCKED device. Before someone jumps in with "no you don't", I've done it for my last four iPhones, 13,14, 15, 16. I get same trade in value, monthly credits, billed on my TMo bill.
Check it out. Of course, you’ll need an eSIM from your foreign carrier.
That's a good tip! I was hoping to stick with Androids but maybe it'll have to be iphones. Gracias.
mihelog wrote:
That's a good tip! I was hoping to stick with Androids but maybe it'll have to be iphones. Gracias.
You can do similar with Samsung. You just need to make sure you order the U1 model and not the U. Google also offers financing through their own provider to purchase a SIM unlocked version of a Pixel directly from them.
