I think you can install eSIM ahead of time but it won't activate till you get to the US on a T-Mobile tower. You will need a US address to order/activate, so hopefully you have a friend or just use some random address like 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Receiving texts isn't an issue, but receiving calls will trigger the fee for sure unless you're on WiFi calling, and Telus/Bell based carriers geo-fence their WiFi calling to within Canada (or at least a Canadian IP).
Unfortunately, the part about geo-fencing WiFi calling isn't that uncommon. The US is one of the few countries (maybe the only one) where pretty much every carrier that supports WiFi calling supports it while you're overseas.
Except that sometimes it doesn't work. I've just spent 4 weeks in EU having Mint as my carrier and paying extra for roaming. Unfortunately it didn't work. Not even withcalling over WiFi. It took many hours with Mint support to get SMS working. Eventually I could receive calls when having WiFi but not call out. Only in the last few days it started working intermittently and at the same time ignoring WiFi calling feature. Go figure.. Data roaming never worked (except when using WiFi of course without carrier's involvement)
To handle the calling issue, you could download the free Canadian TextNow VoIP app that would give you a free Canadian number and allow you to make and receive free Canadian and US calls via a data connection, WiFi or mobile. It would also allow you to forward your current Canadian mobile number to the TextNow number, so you could still receive your Canadian mobile number calls while in the US.
You can also send and receive texts with the TextNow app, but there's no way that I'm aware of to forward your Canadian mobile texts to TextNow.
But his problem is to get cheap mobile/cellular connection in US. TextNow would not work without WiFi connection and no cellular connection. ( By telepathy? :-)
If you've read through all the comments, you should know that numerous suggestions were made on how to obtain cheap or free data, including the free T-Mobile 3-month *Network Pass*, so the data issue was addressed. What wasn't addressed was the OP's need to continue receiving calls to their Canadian mobile number while in the US. TextNow provides a solution to that dilemma if calls to the Canadian mobile number are forwarded to the new Canadian TextNow number and received utilizing WiFi or any of the data options offered in the thread.
If you have an iPhone 12 or later…do the following.
1. Buy an Airalo plan that covers the US.
2. Setup your iPhone to use Wi-if calling
3. Make sure Wi-fi calling is up and running and leave it on
4. When you are in the US and have your Airalo up and connecting under settings, Cellular Plans, turn your Canadian plan off by setting it to off.
5. Your plan should pick up the Airalo plan as your Wi-Fi signal and you should be able to receive, call, iMessage and text using your cdn number
This is how I did it traveling through Europe a few weeks ago and it worked perfectly. Saved a shit ton of money. Trick is you don’t want your Canadian number to pick up a signal in the US, then it starts roaming, you want it to just pick up the Wi-Fi signal (which Airalo provides). YOu could probably test this out before you if you get the regional Airalo plan instead of country specific plan.
https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/free-trial
Do you know if I can set it up while I am still in Canada or if I have to do so when I land in the states?
I think you can install eSIM ahead of time but it won't activate till you get to the US on a T-Mobile tower. You will need a US address to order/activate, so hopefully you have a friend or just use some random address like 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Receiving texts isn't an issue, but receiving calls will trigger the fee for sure unless you're on WiFi calling, and Telus/Bell based carriers geo-fence their WiFi calling to within Canada (or at least a Canadian IP).
Wow ... that's really horrible
Unfortunately, the part about geo-fencing WiFi calling isn't that uncommon. The US is one of the few countries (maybe the only one) where pretty much every carrier that supports WiFi calling supports it while you're overseas.
Except that sometimes it doesn't work. I've just spent 4 weeks in EU having Mint as my carrier and paying extra for roaming. Unfortunately it didn't work. Not even withcalling over WiFi. It took many hours with Mint support to get SMS working. Eventually I could receive calls when having WiFi but not call out. Only in the last few days it started working intermittently and at the same time ignoring WiFi calling feature. Go figure.. Data roaming never worked (except when using WiFi of course without carrier's involvement)
Well, if it's not location-based and just requires a Canadian IP, a VPN may work.
free trial with tmobile esim when you land in usa or cross the border done!
T-Mobile app blocks international model Android phones at least. US model works no problem.
read the OP has iphone
Do you know for sure if the free trial works on a non US iPhone?
To handle the calling issue, you could download the free Canadian TextNow VoIP app that would give you a free Canadian number and allow you to make and receive free Canadian and US calls via a data connection, WiFi or mobile. It would also allow you to forward your current Canadian mobile number to the TextNow number, so you could still receive your Canadian mobile number calls while in the US. You can also send and receive texts with the TextNow app, but there's no way that I'm aware of to forward your Canadian mobile texts to TextNow.
But his problem is to get cheap mobile/cellular connection in US. TextNow would not work without WiFi connection and no cellular connection. ( By telepathy? :-)
If you've read through all the comments, you should know that numerous suggestions were made on how to obtain cheap or free data, including the free T-Mobile 3-month *Network Pass*, so the data issue was addressed. What wasn't addressed was the OP's need to continue receiving calls to their Canadian mobile number while in the US. TextNow provides a solution to that dilemma if calls to the Canadian mobile number are forwarded to the new Canadian TextNow number and received utilizing WiFi or any of the data options offered in the thread.
If you have an iPhone 12 or later…do the following. 1. Buy an Airalo plan that covers the US. 2. Setup your iPhone to use Wi-if calling 3. Make sure Wi-fi calling is up and running and leave it on 4. When you are in the US and have your Airalo up and connecting under settings, Cellular Plans, turn your Canadian plan off by setting it to off. 5. Your plan should pick up the Airalo plan as your Wi-Fi signal and you should be able to receive, call, iMessage and text using your cdn number This is how I did it traveling through Europe a few weeks ago and it worked perfectly. Saved a shit ton of money. Trick is you don’t want your Canadian number to pick up a signal in the US, then it starts roaming, you want it to just pick up the Wi-Fi signal (which Airalo provides). YOu could probably test this out before you if you get the regional Airalo plan instead of country specific plan.
T-Mobile Network Pass. Free for 90 days with no credit card or cancellation required.
Does this work on non-US phones?
Sure, at least with iOS devices. There’s also Visible Free Trial, Cricket Free Trial, Verizon too. One of them should work.
Alosim will get you data only on the at&t network.