Student SIM for USA: land with a US number and 50GB already working, ₹3,999 ($47.99)
A US local number in your name before you fly, 50GB for your first 30 days on T-Mobile and AT&T networks, 100 minutes to India, then ₹2,499 a month with the same number.
USA student SIM at a glance
The Universal eSIMs USA student SIM (Arrive Connected USA) costs ₹3,999 ($47.99) for 30 days with 50GB on T-Mobile and AT&T networks, a US local number active before departure and 100 India minutes. Monthly continuation costs ₹2,499. Local prepaid plans in USA cost US$15 to US$40 a month, approx.
Prices checked on 25 October 2026 · Hotspot allowed on every plan · Full refund if your phone cannot install the eSIM
Arrive Connected USA: plans and prices
Prices include GST. Pay by UPI, card or PayPal; parents can pay from India. A consultant code takes 10% off the starter.
Starter kit 50GB, 30 days
₹3,999 ($47.99)
- US local number in your name, live within 48 hours
- 100 minutes to India
- Hotspot allowed
- T-Mobile and AT&T networks
Monthly continuation 50GB, 30 days
₹2,499 ($29.99)
- Same US local number
- 100 India minutes a month
- Renews only when you confirm
- Or hand off to a local carrier partner
Parent calling pack 30 days
₹999 ($11.99)
- 300 minutes India to your US number
- 3GB in USA for a parent travelling with you
- Installs on the parent's phone
- Buy any time from your account
Arrive Connected USA pricing, launch pricing
What you need a US number for in USA
Each of these verifies a local mobile by SMS or calls you back on it. With the US local number active before departure you can start most of them from India.
Week-one tasks in USA that need a local number
How Arrive Connected USA works: the pre-departure timeline
Visa approved: order the kit (2 to 8 weeks before you fly)
Choose Arrive Connected USA, enter your passport details and travel date, add a consultant code if you have one for 10% off. Pay by UPI or card.
Within 48 hours: your local number is assigned
We email the USA number, the eSIM QR code and a one-page setup sheet. The number is yours from this point; give it to your university and bank.
One week before departure: install on Wi-Fi
Scan the QR on your phone at home. Takes two minutes. The data plan stays dormant until the eSIM first connects abroad, so nothing is used in India.
Departure day: switch it on at the gate
Turn on the Universal eSIM line and data roaming for that line only. USA networks connect automatically on landing and your 30 days start then.
Day 25: choose how to continue
Renew the monthly plan in the app, or take the hand-off to a local carrier partner. Your number stays the same either way.
iPhone install guide · Android install guide · eSIM not connecting?
USA student SIM vs local prepaid carriers vs Indian roaming
Carrier prices are approximate list prices for prepaid plans, indicative for October 2026, converted at indicative rates, and exclude activation fees and taxes where carriers add them. They change often; check the carrier before you decide.
Getting connected in USA: the options
The case for the kit is not that it is always the cheapest line item. Local prepaid can be cheaper per month once you are settled, and the day-25 hand-off exists for exactly that reason. The kit wins on the first two weeks: the number exists before you land, the identity check is done, and India calling is included.
Your first 7 days in USA: checklist
- Day 1Switch on the Universal eSIM line at the gate. Message home on WhatsApp, book an Uber with your US number.
- Day 2Check in with the international student office (ISSS) and complete your SEVIS arrival report.
- Day 3Collect your student ID and set up Duo or Okta 2FA with your US number as the SMS backup.
- Day 4Open a student bank account. Carry passport, I-20, admission letter and your US phone number.
- Day 5Apply for an SSN if you have an on-campus job offer; the appointment confirmation arrives by phone.
- Day 6Register your US number and address with the university portal and your housing office.
- Day 7Join eduroam on campus Wi-Fi and decide whether 50GB a month is right for you; most students use 20 to 35GB.
Timings are typical, not fixed. Immigration, university and bank rules change; confirm current requirements with your university's international office.
Universities and cities covered
Universities where Indian students commonly enrol
- Arizona State University
- University of Texas at Dallas
- Northeastern University
- New York University
- University of Southern California
- Purdue University
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Georgia Tech
- University at Buffalo
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- University of Maryland
Coverage is on the same national networks local students use. University-specific pages follow after launch.
Cities
- New York
- Boston
- Dallas
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Atlanta
- Seattle
Intakes
- Fall: late August
- Spring: mid January
- Summer: May, fewer programmes
Most Indian students fly between 15 July and 25 August. Order your kit by early July to avoid the visa-slot rush.
USA tips from the setup sheet
- iPhone 14 and newer sold in the USA are eSIM-only, so if you plan to buy a phone there, keep the Universal eSIM on your Indian phone until the new one is set up.
- Campus and apartment Wi-Fi is fast, so a 50GB starter is generous. Hotspot your laptop on day one until your apartment internet is installed.
- Keep your Indian SIM active on a low-cost plan so Indian bank OTPs still arrive. Keep its data roaming switched off.
Registration and regulation. US prepaid numbers do not require identity registration, but banks and universities will expect the number to stay the same for the year. Port it to a local carrier later if you prefer; confirm the carrier supports port-in from our partner network.
Policies that apply to this plan
Reviews from students in USA
Verified reviews from students, filtered by country and university, appear here after our launch beta. They come from Trustpilot and our own post-arrival survey. We do not show placeholder or purchased reviews. Read the review policy.
USA student SIM questions
What does the USA student SIM include?
Arrive Connected USA includes a US local number in your name that is live before you fly, 50GB of data for 30 days on T-Mobile and AT&T networks, 100 minutes of calls to India, hotspot, and a setup sheet with the USA first-week checklist. It costs ₹3,999 ($47.99) including GST.
Why do I need a US number before I land in USA?
Social Security offices confirm and reschedule appointments by phone. An on-campus job needs an SSN, and the SSN needs a reachable US number. Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo student accounts send login and Zelle OTPs by SMS to a US number. Most will not send codes to +91. With the number already on your phone you complete these from India or on day one.
How much does the USA student SIM cost per month after the first 30 days?
The monthly continuation costs ₹2,499 ($29.99) for 50GB a month with the same number and 100 India minutes. A full first year, starter plus 11 months, comes to ₹31,488. Local carrier prepaid plans cost US$15 to US$40 a month (approx. ₹1,260 to ₹3,360) and charge extra for India calls.
Which networks does the USA student SIM use?
T-Mobile and AT&T networks. Your phone picks the strongest signal in New York, Boston, Dallas and across the country. Campus coverage at Arizona State University, University of Texas at Dallas, Northeastern University is on the same national networks that local students use.
Is 50GB enough for a student in USA?
For most students, yes. Campus and accommodation Wi-Fi carry most video and downloads; mobile data covers maps, messaging, video calls home and hotspot for a laptop. Students typically use 15GB to 35GB a month. If you expect more, the Global eSIM 20GB top-up can be added from the app.
Does the USA student SIM need identity registration?
US prepaid numbers do not require identity registration, but banks and universities will expect the number to stay the same for the year. Port it to a local carrier later if you prefer; confirm the carrier supports port-in from our partner network.
When are the USA intakes and when should I order?
Fall: late August. Spring: mid January. Summer: May, fewer programmes. Most Indian students fly between 15 July and 25 August. Order your kit by early July to avoid the visa-slot rush.
Can my parents call me on the US number?
Yes. Any Indian phone can call the US local number at that operator's international rate, or use the parent calling pack: ₹999 for 300 minutes to your number plus 3GB of data valid in USA for 30 days, for parents who travel with you.
How do I use a consultant code for the USA student SIM?
Enter the code at checkout. It takes 10% off the starter, so ₹3,999 becomes ₹3,599. Your consultant earns 15% commission. If your consultant does not have a code yet, send them the education consultants page.
What if my phone does not support eSIM?
We post a physical student SIM with the same US local number and plan to any address in India in 1 to 3 days, with KYC completed online under DoT rules. See delivery and KYC. Check your phone first with the compatibility checker.
Related pages
• All student SIM countries
· • Arrive Connected kit explained
· • For education consultants
· • USA travel eSIM for short visits
· • eSIM compatibility checker
· • Physical SIM delivery and KYC
· • Student connectivity checklist
· • UK student SIM
· • Canada student SIM
· • Australia student SIM
· • Germany student SIM
Land in USA with your number already working
Order after your visa is approved. US local number within 48 hours, 50GB from the moment you land, 100 minutes home. Full refund before the number is assigned.
Arrive Connected USA student SIM
Student SIM for the United States with a US local number before departure, 50GB starter data on T-Mobile and AT&T networks, and 100 India minutes.
Product Brand: Universal eSIMs