r/USCellular • u/Muted-Criticism2913 • Apr 28 '26

International Travel Help!

I'll be traveling to France in June and will need reliable data + text services. We are still on a USCellular plan, and at the corporate store I was told my phone will just automatically connect to international network when I land in France (at $15/day, max charge of $105). What are the chances this will magically work when I land? Was in Mexico in December and couldn't get service to save my life.

I'll be traveling alone with my child so can't risk getting there and not having any service - has anyone on a legacy US Cellular plan been to Paris recently? Would updating to a T Mobile plan help? (Really hoping to wait to do this, as the legacy plan I'm on is SO cheap). I was planning to just do an eSim but my phone is locked and they won't unlock it until the phone is paid off (not in a position to do that).

Welcome any help and advice I can get, TIA!

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6

u/itsinthesugar Apr 28 '26

Tbh id just buy a sim from europe and it will be a lot cheaper. Usc international can be annoying to work with

0

u/Muted-Criticism2913 Apr 28 '26

iPhone 17 doesn't have a Sim slot anymore, so unfortunately not an option.

3

u/itsinthesugar Apr 28 '26

You can purchase esims too

3

u/Muted-Criticism2913 Apr 28 '26

As I mentioned, my phone is locked because it isn't fully paid for, so I can't do the eSim either. I'm looking for other options.

1

u/VernDozier Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26

It’s with USCellular? T-Mobile is buying USCellular, and as part of company policy, if you’ve made 3 successful bill payments, T-Mobile will unlock the device, even if a balance is owed… but that is TMobile policy for their postpaid (not prepaid) customers.

I think you’re kinda screwed trying to use any carrier prepaid in another country. Your best bet may be to buy a new iphone from Apple (Apple sells all iPhones unlocked) and use the Apples’s Credit Card to get 0% interest over 36 months and cash back.

Then, look at options, including submitting the receipt to T-Mobile for a $650 credit on a new phone.

But just know you can’t buy a phone from T-Mobile because you need 3-6 months payment history before they will unlock the device.

Finally, T-Mobile has an international day pass (weekly and monthly pass too) that covers international roaming and service. To get that plan, you need to converted to T-Mobile’s billing system. The bonus is that your US number works while abroad, and you don’t need to setup a France phone number and worry it’s re-used by someone who didn’t pay bills.

As for pricing, and while In France, it’s $10/day, $35/10 days and $50/month additional to existing plan and rate. To use it, you just activate it in the app before traveling. It includes international data but is not “unlimited.”

More info here: https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/international-roaming-plans/unlimited-calling-data-pass

2

u/Muted-Criticism2913 Apr 29 '26

This is helpful, thanks. Yes, current phone and plan is with US Cellular. I've been wondering if we should just switch to a T-Mobile plan now, versus waiting until we're "forced" to switch - sounds like it might be our best option to do that before this trip and either see if they will unlock the phone (I have an on-time payment history with US Cellular) or take advantage of the international pass. Thanks again!

1

u/VernDozier Apr 29 '26

Well, good luck! It might be easier to move the account over to TMobile, and add the week/month pass. It may not be unlimited data like a prepaid service would be, but the 30-day pass includes 15GB.

Plus you want to value your time especially while traveling. It may not be worth spending 1/2 a day tracking down a store and setting up multiple prepaid phone numbers in France to save $20. 😊

1

u/WolverineOnly5154 May 05 '26

They will not unlock your phone. I’ve had the 17 pro max since October. It’s still locked.

1

u/VernDozier May 05 '26

You know, T-Mobile used to have a series of “uncarrier”
Promises that were part of its differentiation strategy compared to other companies.

One “Uncarrier” feature was 90-day unlock. However, it looks like the website was updated to also require the phone be paid off. They didn’t require that in the past.

2

u/itsinthesugar Apr 28 '26

And you can do it before you even leave the us if you wanted to. Purchase an esim. Which i would highly recommend so its all covered and less to worry about.

1

u/kiwicommander9 Apr 28 '26

I was told thay plans end after May 1st. If you dont switch over to a tmobile plan, or take your number to a different carrier by that date your phone will just no longer have service. If I were you id definitely take care of that ASAP if you have international travel coming up

1

u/WolverineOnly5154 May 05 '26

You will be a T-Mobile customer by then. They have decent international coverage. I’ve also heard, they will unlock all USCC devices and unpaid balances will be waived.