How can I maintain my US phone account and banking while moving to Thailand on a marriage visa?

You can transfer your US cell phone # to a Google Voice account for $20 but you MUST set it up before leaving the US. You will not be able to set it up in Thailand, only in the US BEFORE you leave. Once your number transfers to your google voice account your US carrier account cancels and you will no additional monthly fees on google voice. Then when you get Thailand just get a SIM card there. Once your Thai SIM card is active, your phone will have internet access everywhere.

Them open up your Google Voice app settings and ensure "Making and receiving calls" is set to "Prefer Wi-Fi and mobile data."

Don't put all your eggs in one basket, especially if that one basket is Thailand. Maintain accounts in the US even if you only keep the minimum amount required in the account.

Why would you do that. All us dollars withdrawal and deposit need to pay fees.

I agree with everyone else about the keeping US bank account. But the answer to your question about keeping US phone number is Google voice, sign up and then make sure your original phone number if you want to keep it is ported before you leave the country. Then you can also use it for your what’s app number

Um hey buddy , that's a bad idea

Whatsapp

no kids, no family, no friends, to use as US based mail or phone, been here almost 5 years...no US phone, no US address, SSA and Pension direct deposit to Bangkok Bank through Bangkok Bank domestic routing in NY...what more do I need...credit cards?...for what?...if I really need one I can get a secured card here no problem...and I have two Thai accounts with cards, one has UnionPay...and I have AliPay attached to my account as well so I have no issues paying anywhere for anything...also have TrueMoney wallet...I make less than 30kUS so I don't need to file taxes...lastly I'm 68...statistically, I'm on the home stretch to my demise...so why worry...

Savvy Nomad

4&utm_campaign=s-competitors-ww&utm_content=70&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=4&gbraid=0AAAAADln-jhEtd0gzf91HPaJLFM_66ahp

why the US phone?...Ive been here 4.5yrs now....no US phone...

The worst mistake we made with your move here, was to close the US bank account. Don't do it.

Keep us account, have a USA phone, have a debt card

Transfer your phone to google phone. Don't be an idiot. Keep an American account. Thai banks are not really friendly and don't live international standards. They don't pay interest. The list goes on. There are also 2nd line apps that work for a few dollars a month and can get verification code. I don't think your quite prepared. You can also get a cheap esim card. You will need an American number. I have given you options. If you have credit cards that require American address then I suggest buying an address that will forward your mail as needed.. You seem to be a rookie. Take the advice people are giving you. You should set your self with more ok ne ATM in case of energency. Get a revolt card now and get an international drivers license from TriplenA. Don't keep all your eggs in one nest. People have bank accts frozen for dam reason here

Bassakwards, IMHO. The only reason I maintain a USA phone is for US banking.

You should do the whole South Dakota residency thing. You can stay 1 night every five years and remain an official resident of South Dakota. You definitely shouldn’t cut off all ties to the US banking system.

t mobile just keep it

I concur with other comments that you should try to keep your bank account, but if not, you have a try bank account with a debit card, you can use that. I recommend Mint Mobile, they have a $15 a month plan 

Keep money invested in US, Thai banks pay you shit. Also if you live overseas, it will be impossible for you to open a bank account. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Tello or Mint Mobile. Make sure it's activated in the US before leaving.

IMO that is a terrible decision. Too many stories about accounts be frozen. I keep 2 in US and 2 here. If you have 2 you have 1. If you have 1 you have none

Setup google voice, and port your US cell # to it. This way ppl can still call/text yr us# and u will receive it worldwide as long as you have internet.

I use any time Mail in the United States. It’s kind of like a PO Box 

Definitely keep your American bank account and keep your phone number!!! 

Xept a friend there with who you stay conected by internet ...to pay the sim for you or ger the number on his name by giving you rhe qr to monthly pay rhe bill from your thai acounr on line ? No ?be careful before getting maried lol;-)

I never had any problems with banks when I moved to Thailand in 1976. Yorkshire bank who I was with now Virgin Money allowed me to keep my accounts open even sent the statements to Thailand. (Obviously before internet) I still have those accounts now in 2026 and never had the slightest problem

Magic Jack

Get MagicJsck Internet phone paying for a year or 2 in advance. Not expensive

I have maintained an address for over 15 years with usglobalmail.com, I also maintain a phone number with mint mobile, or you can go the free route and use google voice

Google voice you can port your number and keep it forever. That’s what I did five years ago.

I’ve got three US bank accounts. My retirement account and credit union have my Thai address. I have two credit cards, the credit union and my regular US bank. In Thailand I have two Thai bank accounts. I have a US phone number and a Thai phone number. Work towards having backups in the US and Thailand.

Go to Ipostal1.com. You can get a U.S. address that is valid for everything. I’ve had it 3 years.

No way I’d have all my money transferred into a Thai bank acct. Just look at what happened this past year where they froze thousands of accounts and those that had no back up had no money. IMHO, that’s a very bad idea.

A lot of issues keeping banks open with no addresss. Banks are required to know their customer and may ask for a utility in your name with address on file. Most banks will not accept virtual mailbox and their a.i system will catch it. For some people it may work but what happens when it catches up to them? I am also trying to figure it out and may ask an expat investing firm for answers. Look up Creative wealth International for their expat investing firm and maintaining banks and phones

I use mint mobile it’s 180 a year and it’s great for keeping a USA number or you can port to google voice but some USA banks and cards don’t accept Google voice numbers

Former intl banker here - Never. Ever.

Never. Close your US Bank account. You never know when you will need it. Depositing everything in your Thai bank account? All your sources of income. As for a U.S. address - ask a friend if you can use their address for receiving mail or set up a virtual mailbox (although these are coming under a lot of scrutiny), it’s better then nothing. At least try one of these options for the first year until you get your bearings in Thailand. You never know what will happen. Very, very hard to cut ties, especially financial ties with America.

I use VOIPLY with my original USA PHONE NUMBER for the last 5 years

You’re already experiencing the difficulties of not having a bank account and/or credit card. There are services such as Tello that you can use for a US based telephone number but it’s subscription based. How will you pay the monthly fees?

You’re setting yourself up for long term stress by not keeping ties to your home country.

Tello is great. They issue a US number and plans can be as low as $5/mo to unlimited use at $25/mo. You can upgrade or downgrade service packages as needed. Can be used for calling, text, and 2 factor authenticaion, like banking, etc. While abroad, turn on "wifi calling" and use any local wifi of choice. I've been using it for a year now and it is as if having a US number while outside the US. On a side note, if you are from the US, note that if anything goes wrong with visas, legal issues, overstays, entry denied, passport issues, etc, the only country that you can go to is the US. Thus keep an address (friends or family), bank, credit card, Medicare, Soc Sec, and other resources for emergency events. Cutting all ties and burning bridges behind could easily put you on the wrong side of the balcony. No joke.

Not a good idea of not having an account in the US.

They are always freezing thai bank accounts here

Not sure what you’re thinking but you should really keep everything open in USA. You’re going to make everything 100x harder on yourself. Keep your phone number, keep your bank account, keep a permanent residence. If you’re working and making money you still want to pay into social security (if it’s alive later who knows). Even if you’re in Thailand you get taxed in USA on your income, it’s not like you escape that too. Why make it difficult on yourself? Do you think Thailand will give you a credit card? No.

Definitely keep a us bank account and use wise to transfer funds

Tello

Wise ?

What are the payment options for your carrier?

Try Sonetel.

@Son****

I probably won’t be the only person to recommend that you keep a US bank account