Okay so I run a few businesses and travel, and my US LLC gets paid in USD.
US PayPal account, and US bank account. Sweet.
BUT I’m not from the US. So I always get blocked by banks and paypal, asking to SMS verify my US phone number
How do you guys solve this problem?
I’ve tried virtual numbers / Skype but often the stupid site will not accept it saying “sorry that number is not acceptable”.
I got a real US SIM, but somehow the US carriers cancel it after I’ve been nomading outside of the US, even though I’m still paying for it. It lasted for a while but now I’m stuck again.
I use NumberBarn and it works fine
Thanks for the suggestion! I think they sometimes work. They’re super clear about not promising that 2FA will work though, here’s a list of things that they don’t work with: https://www.numberbarn.com/blog/sms-notifications-from-your-bank/
I recently moved a mobile number Tossable Digits on their $40/year plan, as I did not like tying up a cellphone just for 2FA. They have a similar warnings as NumberBarn, but so far everything is working for 2FA, including a couple banks. This is a number I have had for a long time that started as a landline, that I then transferred to Ultra Paygo for a couple years, and now it is at Tossable Digits.
Go get a Cricket number/sim from states. I have been using them for years outside of country no problem. They also have wifi calling in the package too. I spend 50 a month and get unlimited everything.
US Mobile or Tello are your solution if all you need is 2FA SMS codes. Both are eSIMs that are real phone numbers (no VoIP) and only $5 a month with unlimited incoming texts. Tello only works on WiFi/data while outside the US, but US Mobile includes roaming AFAIK.
That sounds awesome. I had a hardware Verizon / T-Mobile SIM and it got cancelled on me when travelling. I think on another visit to the US I got a “US Mobile” e-SIM, but I don’t think it works overseas.
It seems like there’s just no good solution that works a) forever and b) verifying every service.
US Mobile definitely works. I think you might be confused because US Mobile doesn’t automatically enable global data by default. They enable data on a country by country basis, so unless you went in the app and picked a data plan for the country you’re in you won’t get data [while you’re not on wifi]. However, this has nothing to do with your SMS messages not coming through. They will come through as long as the SIM card is turned on in your phone’s settings.
PS - don’t buy data from US Mobile it’s much cheaper to get a local SIM card wherever you are.
Ultramobile $3 a month. Owned by Tmobile
I haven’t done it myself yet but am planning to do Tello eSim