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Interesting reply. I'm not sure the iPhone actually channels eSIM activation packets through VPN (just like it doesn't send iMessage or Facetime through VPN). I've never tried to trace those packets so I can't say for sure, but it's worth a try I'd say. Just make sure you have a backup plan if it ends up not working.
Also, these things apply no matter if you're switching from physical SIM to eSIM, or swapping an eSIM to a new device: it's still a new eSIM activation as far as the operator is concerned (but customer care agents don't know that).
Source: I work for a mobile operator myself.
I'm off on a 3-week roadtrip between Florida and Philadelphia on June 22 😉😉
I'll be 10 days away from returning to France when I make the purchase. In the worst case, my girlfriend has a package with 35 GB for the USA which could be used for the GPS in the car.
Thanks anyway for your reply
Sure! Also you could just buy a generic travel eSIM by Airalo, Saily, BNESIM or other provider of your choice. They're very cheap nowadays and at least you'd have some data.
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
Sure, these 3 I mentioned in my previous post all work well. You can compare prices a bit and see what's best for the amount of data you need.
For example:
- Airalo, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $16
- BNESIM, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $8.80 (or $23.60 to not have the data expire after 30 days, ie. indefinite duration)
- Saily, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $13.99
I’ve heard good things about Roamless Flex (pay-as-you-go).
eSIM United States of America - Travel Internet & Calls | Roamless
United States of America eSIM data for travel internet and calls. Best eSIM for your travel to United States of America. Pay-as-you-go, secure, affordable eSIM for United States of America with Roamless.
roamless.com
You can add no expiry credits and then your balance gets deducted based on usage. The credit can be used in various countries.
Roamless also has an exit node in the US unlike some of the other eSIM providers which route traffic through Asia or Europe.
Cricket and metro, tmobile, totalwireless i guess have 14 day trials - just install their esim and use full fledge on 14 day trial and that is it. Free.
Can you do that as a non-resident, or do you need an SSN? (Asking for myself for the next time I visit)
The prepaid carriers I’ve used have never asked for SSN.
For me it will be a backup in case the eSIM transfer fails, 3 to 5 GB of data can help me finish my trip.
Operator French eSIM : https://www.international-sim.com/esim-usa/
Operator French eSIM : https://www.international-sim.com/esim-usa/
The only hiccup i could foresee is you just need an app sometimes to install request esim. So apps are on US app store - having apple id for travels based in US couldn’t hurt.
As @rui no onna said, prepaids never have asked ssn - or at least even if they try then it is not mandatory and can be skipped.
Anyone using "silence any one SIM using Focus" in iOS 26 Beta?
How does it work?
Does it work in a way that it is essentially
(A la "content restriction" → if I want to use it for feature A, feature B and C.. and D.. and T.. and what not… gets enabled or disabled on its own; this is not the case with this feature, is it?).
How does it work?
Does it work in a way that it is essentially
- just silence any one (e)SIM using this new Focus feature w/o affecting any other (e)SIM or anything else on the phone or any other setting whatsoever
(A la "content restriction" → if I want to use it for feature A, feature B and C.. and D.. and T.. and what not… gets enabled or disabled on its own; this is not the case with this feature, is it?).
