Before you start

An unlocked handset, or an eSIM-capable one
A US address for postpaid, but not for prepaid
A payment method — prepaid accepts foreign cards, postpaid usually does not

Step-by-step

1
Activate an eSIM before flying, or buy prepaid on arrival
A US eSIM activates before you land so you have a working number immediately for rides, deliveries and bank verification codes. No identity registration is required at any point.
OnlineWho: YouDay 1
2
Check your handset is unlocked and band-compatible
Phones bought on contract abroad are frequently locked, and US band combinations trip up some regional models. With 3G shut down there is no fallback network to land on.
OnlineWho: You
3
Start prepaid rather than fighting a credit check
Postpaid runs a credit check. With no US file you will be declined or asked for a deposit. Prepaid has no check and is usually cheaper for the same data allowance.
OnlineWho: You
4
Leave severe weather alerts switched on
Ohio gets severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes, and the warnings arrive through the federal wireless alert system. Franklin County also runs its own alert programme. Both are worth having, and the tornado warnings in particular are the ones not to silence.
Mobile appWho: YouWeek 1
5
Shop home internet by address — competition here is better than most
Central Ohio has more genuine broadband competition than most Midwestern metros, with fibre reaching a growing share of the city alongside cable. That means the price you are quoted first is usually not the best available. Check the address on more than one provider before signing a 12-month term.
OnlineWho: You
6
Port rather than cancel if you switch later
Number portability is a legal right and works between carriers and MVNOs. Request the port from the new carrier — never cancel the old service first, or you lose the number.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport for postpaid; nothing at all for prepaid
US address for postpaid
A payment card — prepaid usually accepts foreign cards, postpaid rarely does

Things most newcomers don’t know

The credit check is the barrier, not the documentation.

Carriers check credit before offering postpaid, and a newcomer with no file gets declined or charged a deposit. Prepaid sidesteps it entirely and usually costs less for the same data.

Source: community-reported

The US has no SIM registration at all.

Most countries in this app require passport registration to activate a SIM. The US requires nothing whatsoever for prepaid — you can buy one in a supermarket and be online in minutes.

Source: FCC — consumer guides

Broadband competition here is unusually real, so negotiate.

Much of the US has one practical home internet provider per address. Central Ohio's fibre build means many Columbus addresses have two or three, and promotional pricing responds to that. Check the FCC's broadband map for the specific address and use the second quote against the first.

Source: FCC — National Broadband Map

Coverage thins fast once you leave the metro.

Ohio outside the ring of cities is genuinely rural, and a carrier that is flawless inside the outerbelt can be patchy an hour south in the Hocking Hills — which is where everyone goes at weekends. If you plan to spend time outside the metro, check the coverage map for those areas rather than for your address.

Source: community-reported

Common mistakes to avoid

Applying for postpaid with no credit file and facing a large deposit.
Bringing a carrier-locked handset from abroad and discovering it on arrival.
Silencing weather alerts after one loud test, and missing a tornado warning.
Signing the first home internet quote without checking who else serves the address.
Cancelling the old carrier before requesting the port, and losing the number.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.