A US number for US retirees living abroad

Why keep a US number after you retire abroad?

Retiring to Mexico, Portugal, Costa Rica or Thailand does not stop the US from calling. Your children and grandchildren want to ring you as easily as before. A doctor's office or pharmacy you still use may call about an appointment. Banks, insurers and other offices and companies that still call a US number may have only a +1 number on file for you. A US number in your pocket keeps all of them in reach, without a US phone plan you no longer use day to day.

The TripoSIM US Virtual Number is an app on the phone you already have. It uses your home Wi-Fi or your local mobile data, and calls ring like any other call. Your local SIM stays in the phone for local calls.

Who will call you?

An example of the calls a retired couple abroad might get in a month:

A word on scam calls: retirees get more of them, wherever they live. Never read a verification code or a card number to someone who called you. If a caller says they are from your bank or any other office, hang up and call back on a number you look up yourself.

Is it simple to use?

If you can make a call on your smartphone, you can use it. The steps, once:

1. Install it. On iPhone, add the TripoSIM web app to your Home Screen. On Android, install the TripoSIM app.
2. Do the identity check. Have your passport or other photo ID ready; it takes about 2 minutes with a selfie.
3. Choose your number. Pick an area code your family knows, such as the one where your children live. See the area code list.
4. Say yes to notifications and the microphone when the phone asks, so calls ring and callers can hear you.
5. Record a greeting and ask a relative to call you as a test.

A son, daughter or grandchild can help. On a video call, they can talk you through each screen while you tap, or set it up with you during a visit. TripoSIM says calls ring even when the app is closed once notifications and the microphone are allowed; a phone that is off, offline or has notifications blocked does not ring, and callers reach voicemail.

When will US calls reach you?

Offices in the US call during their working day, and family often calls in their evening. Where you live decides whether that is your morning or your night:

• Mexico (most of the country) and Costa Rica: the same time as Chicago in the US winter, and an hour behind Chicago in the US summer. US calls arrive in your day.
• Portugal: five hours ahead of New York most of the year. A doctor's office calling at 3 p.m. in New York reaches you at 8 p.m.
• Thailand: eleven hours ahead of New York in the US summer, twelve in the US winter. Office calls come in your night, so voicemail takes them and you call back in your evening, their morning.

The US time-zone clock shows the time in each US zone right now. Put your time zone in your greeting, so callers know when to expect you to call back.

What should your voicemail say?

Keep it short and friendly:

"Hi, this is [your name]. I live in [country] now, so I may be asleep when you call. Leave your name, your number and a good time to reach you, and I will call you back."

Messages can be up to 2 minutes, up to 30 a month, kept 30 days. Play them in the app each morning. The voicemail guide has setup steps.

What about texts and sign-in codes?

Texts from US and Canadian senders arrive in the app, such as appointment reminders. You cannot answer a text from the number, so call back instead, or ask the office to call or email you.

The number also receives verification codes (OTP SMS) from apps. TripoSIM tested 22 apps, including WhatsApp, Google, Apple ID, Amazon, PayPal and Uber. Moving an account to your new number? Change it in the account's settings one at a time, and sign in once with a code sent to the new number before you remove the old one. The verification codes guide explains how to get each code quickly.

If your family uses WhatsApp, you can set it up on your US number too. The number receives the WhatsApp verification code, and grandchildren can then message and video call you at the same +1 number they phone. See WhatsApp on a US number.

Should you keep your old US number?

If you still have your old US carrier number, you may want to keep it, at least until your doctors, banks and family have the new one. The TripoSIM number is a new number you choose; it does not replace your old one by itself. Our guide on keeping your US number or getting a new one walks through the choices, including porting and parking a number.

How many minutes do you need?

Calls family and offices make to you are included up to a fair use of 300 minutes a month. Only calls you make to US and Canadian numbers use your 300 minutes. Each outgoing call is rounded up to the next full minute; unanswered calls are free. Three examples, worked out for a year:

Incoming calls do not use your minutes (fair use 300 minutes a month). Each plan includes 300 minutes a month out; extra minutes are $5 per 100, and unused extra minutes carry over to the next month, so the year counts the packs for all 12 months together. Prices before tax.

If you call home every day, let family call you on some of those days. Their calls come from the incoming allowance, not your minutes, and both can stay within the plan. The yearly plan is $100; the monthly plan is $12.99 with the same minutes, and you can cancel the renewal anytime.

Do you and your spouse want separate numbers?

You can each have your own number, so your doctor's office reaches the right person. One person can also have several: the same person can have as many TripoSIM US numbers as they like on one account, each with its own plan, minutes and voicemail. For example, one number for family and another for a rental home back in the US, each with its own greeting.

What about emergencies?

The TripoSIM number cannot call 911 or any emergency service. Keep a local SIM where you live, learn the local emergency number, and write it next to the phone. If a relative in the US needs urgent help, someone near them must call 911 from a local phone.

When is another option better?

• You spend half the year in the US: a US carrier line covers sending texts and 911 while you are there. Keep the TripoSIM number as a second line if family already has it.
• You want to text people back: the number receives texts only. Use WhatsApp on the number for written replies.
• Your family lives outside the US and Canada: calls out go to US and Canadian numbers only. Anyone can still call your number.
• Internet at home is unreliable: calls need Wi-Fi or mobile data. Run the ten-check test first.