Your Complete Mobile Solution for Studying in America
Congratulations on your acceptance to study in the USA! Whether you're heading to UCLA, NYU, University of Michigan, or any other American university for a semester or full academic year, one of your first challenges will be setting up reliable phone service that doesn't drain your budget.
As a Taiwanese exchange student, you need three things: affordable data and calling in the USA, a way to stay in touch with family back home on 中華電信 (Chunghwa Telecom), Taiwan Mobile, or FarEasTone, and a solution that doesn't lock you into expensive annual contracts.
This guide shows you exactly how to set up your phone for your semester abroad without overpaying.
Why Your Chunghwa Telecom SIM Won't Work Well in America
Many Taiwanese students arrive in the USA thinking they'll just use international roaming on their 中華電信 or Taiwan Mobile plan. This creates several problems:
- Expensive roaming fees: NT$600-800 per day for data roaming adds up to NT$18,000-24,000 per month
- Poor coverage: Taiwan carrier roaming partners don't always provide the best network access
- Complicated billing: Unexpected charges appear months later on your parents' Taiwan mobile bill
- No local number: Your American classmates and professors can't easily reach you
You need a proper USA phone plan, not an expensive roaming solution.
What Taiwanese Exchange Students Actually Need
Based on hundreds of Taiwanese students who've used Nexitel during their exchange programs, here's what you really need:
For Daily Life in America
- Unlimited or high-volume data for Google Maps, LINE, Instagram, school apps
- Reliable calling and texting with American classmates, professors, landlords
- Coverage that works on campus, in your apartment, and when traveling during breaks
- Month-to-month flexibility (not a 2-year contract you can't escape)
- Affordable pricing that doesn't require your parents to send extra money from Taiwan
For Staying Connected to Taiwan
- Affordable calls to family in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, or wherever home is
- Ability to reach parents' 中華電信 mobile numbers and landlines
- Good call quality so your 阿嬤 (grandma) can actually understand you
- Option to top up your parents' Taiwan Mobile or FarEasTone accounts from America
The Nexitel Solution: Two Plans That Work Together
Nexitel offers the perfect combination for Taiwanese exchange students: affordable USA coverage plus cheap international calling.
Step 1: Choose Your USA Base Plan
Nexitel Purple Plans run on T-Mobile's network and start at just $6/month:
- $6 Purple Plan: 500MB data + unlimited talk & text (perfect if you mainly use campus WiFi)
- $10 Purple Plan: 2GB data + unlimited talk & text (good for moderate data users)
- $20 Purple Plan: 10GB data + unlimited talk & text (ideal for heavy users who stream, use GPS frequently)
- $25 Purple Plan: 15GB data + unlimited talk & text (best for students who travel, make vlogs, heavy social media)
Nexitel Blue Plans use AT&T's network, starting at $10/month:
- $10 Blue Plan: 1GB data + unlimited talk & text
- $15 Blue Plan: 3GB data + unlimited talk & text
- $20 Blue Plan: 8GB data + unlimited talk & text
- $30 Blue Plan: 15GB data + unlimited talk & text
Which network should you choose? T-Mobile (Purple) typically has excellent coverage in cities and on university campuses. AT&T (Blue) often works better in rural areas if your school is in a smaller town. Check coverage for your specific university location.
All plans include:
- Unlimited calling and texting within the USA
- No contracts—cancel anytime
- No credit check required
- Keep your number if you decide to extend beyond one semester
Step 2: Add NexiTalk for Calls to Taiwan
NexiTalk is Nexitel's VoIP service that lets you call Taiwan (and 100+ other countries) for incredibly low rates.
NexiTalk pricing:
- Pay-as-you-go: $4.99/month base fee + low per-minute rates to Taiwan
- Calls to 中華電信 mobile numbers: typically $0.02-0.05 per minute
- Calls to Taiwan landlines: as low as $0.01 per minute
- Crystal-clear quality using WiFi or your data connection
Why Taiwanese students love NexiTalk:
- Call your parents every day without guilt about the cost
- Your family can answer on their regular 中華電信 or Taiwan Mobile numbers
- Much cheaper than international calling cards from 7-Eleven or 99 Ranch Market
- Works perfectly with LINE or WhatsApp for backup (but gives you a real phone option when internet isn't reliable)
Real Example: Typical Monthly Cost
Let's say you're studying at University of Washington in Seattle:
- Nexitel Purple $20 Plan: $20/month (10GB data for campus life, exploring Seattle, weekend trips)
- NexiTalk: $4.99/month + about $3 in calls (calling home 3-4 times per week)
- Total: ~$28/month (about NT$850)
Compare this to:
- AT&T/Verizon postpaid plans: $60-80/month (NT$1,800-2,400)
- International roaming on 中華電信: NT$18,000+/month
- Other MVNOs without international calling: $30-40/month + expensive calling cards
Setting Up Before You Leave Taiwan
Two Weeks Before Departure
- Order your Nexitel SIM online at nexitel.us/plans
- Choose Purple (T-Mobile) or Blue (AT&T) based on your university location
- Have the SIM shipped to your USA address (dorm, apartment, or host family)
- Sign up for NexiTalk in advance
What About Your Taiwan Number?
Most Taiwanese exchange students handle their home number one of three ways:
Option 1: Suspend your 中華電信/Taiwan Mobile service
- Most Taiwan carriers let you suspend service for NT$150-200/month
- Keeps your Taiwan number active
- Reactivate when you return home
Option 2: Port your Taiwan number to a cheaper plan
- Switch to a basic NT$199/month plan with minimal usage
- Family can still reach you (you'll forward calls to your USA number)
Option 3: Cancel and get a new number later
- If your number isn't important, cancel before leaving
- Get a new Taiwan number when you return
Keep your USA Nexitel number if you return for grad school or work!
Top-Up Your Family's Taiwan Mobile Accounts from America
Need to help your parents or grandparents top up their prepaid Taiwan Mobile or FarEasTone accounts? Nexi Volt lets you send mobile recharge from the USA to Taiwan instantly.
How it works:
- Send NT$300, NT$500, or NT$1,000 directly to any Taiwan mobile number
- Supports 中華電信, Taiwan Mobile, FarEasTone, and others
- Instant delivery—your family gets credit in seconds
- Pay with your USA debit/credit card
Perfect for when your 阿嬤 runs out of minutes or your parents need data while you're away.
What to Do When You Land in America
Day 1: Activate Your Service
- Insert your Nexitel SIM card into your phone
- Make sure your phone is unlocked (if you bought it in Taiwan, check with 中華電信 before leaving)
- Follow activation instructions (usually automatic)
- Download the NexiTalk app for calling Taiwan
- Test calling your parents to let them know you arrived safely
Week 1: Optimize Your Setup
- Connect to your dorm or apartment WiFi to save data
- Download offline maps of your campus area
- Set up WiFi calling if your phone supports it
- Join your university's international student WeChat/LINE group
- Save important USA numbers: campus security, health center, advisor
Month 1: Evaluate Your Usage
After your first month, check your data usage:
- Using less than 2GB? Consider downgrading to save money
- Constantly running out? Upgrade to the next tier
- All Nexitel plans are month-to-month—change anytime
Common Questions from Taiwanese Exchange Students
Can I use LINE and other apps normally? Yes! All Nexitel plans include data for LINE, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, and everything else. Your friends and family in Taiwan can reach you on LINE just like before.
What if I travel during Thanksgiving or spring break? Your Nexitel plan works throughout the entire USA. Road trip to Las Vegas? Visit friends in New York? Your plan covers you everywhere with no roaming fees.
Will my phone from Taiwan work? Most modern phones from 中華電信, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEasTone work in the USA. Make sure:
- Your phone is unlocked (ask your Taiwan carrier before leaving)
- It supports USA LTE bands (most recent iPhones and Samsung phones do)
- You're not on a super old 3G-only phone
Can I keep this number if I do grad school in the USA? Absolutely! Many students keep their Nexitel number for years. If you return to Taiwan and come back for graduate school or work, you can reactivate the same number.
How do I pay my bill from Taiwan if I go home for summer? You can pay online with any international credit card. Or pause your service during summer break and reactivate when you return for fall semester.
Beyond Phone Service: Resources for Taiwanese Students
Banking
Open a checking account at Chase, Bank of America, or a credit union near campus within your first week. You'll need it for rent, utilities, and building USA credit history.
Staying Connected to Taiwan News
- Download Taiwan news apps before leaving
- Join Taiwan student associations at your university
- Look for Taiwan restaurants in major cities (especially LA, SF, NYC, Seattle, Houston)
Tax Considerations
As an F-1 student, you'll need to file USA taxes. Seek help from your university's international student office.
Health Insurance
Most universities require international student health insurance. This is separate from your phone plan but equally important.
Your Action Plan
This week:
- Check if your Taiwan phone is unlocked
- Research whether T-Mobile or AT&T has better coverage at your specific university
- Visit nexitel.us/plans and choose your plan
Two weeks before departure:
- Order your Nexitel SIM to your USA address
- Sign up for NexiTalk
- Inform 中華電信/Taiwan Mobile you'll be suspending service
Upon arrival:
- Activate your Nexitel SIM
- Call home using NexiTalk to confirm everything works
- Download your essential apps on the new USA connection
Start Your USA Journey Connected
Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity, but staying connected shouldn't be expensive or complicated. With a Nexitel Purple or Blue plan starting at just $6/month, plus NexiTalk for cheap calls home to Taiwan, you'll have everything you need to focus on your studies and enjoy your American experience.
Don't overpay for phone service during your exchange semester. Get started today at nexitel.us/plans and join thousands of international students who trust Nexitel to keep them connected.
Welcome to America, and 加油 with your studies! 🇹🇼🇺🇸