Your Complete Phone Guide as a Taiwan Graduate Student in America
Congratulations on your admission! Whether you're heading to UC Berkeley, MIT, or a university in the Midwest, one of your biggest questions is probably: "What do I do about my phone when I land in the USA?"
You need to stay connected with your family back in Taiwan, coordinate with your academic advisor, and navigate everything from apartment hunting to campus orientation. This guide covers everything you need to know about getting an affordable US phone plan while keeping your Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信) connection alive.
Why Taiwan Students Need a Different Phone Strategy
Unlike tourists who might just grab an expensive airport SIM, you're here for at least one or two years. Your phone needs are different:
- F-1 visa requirements — You need a US number for I-20 paperwork, university registration, bank accounts, and apartment leases
- Family video calls — Regular LINE video calls with family in Taipei, Taichung, or Kaohsiung
- Taiwan number preservation — Keeping your Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, or FarEasTone number active for Taiwan bank 2FA, government notices
- Budget constraints — Living on a teaching assistantship or family support means every NT$ counts
- Flexibility — Plans that work during summer trips back home to Taiwan
The Two-Phone Strategy Most Taiwan Students Use
Here's what successful Taiwan graduate students do:
Phone 1: Your US Daily Driver (Nexitel Plan)
Get an affordable US prepaid plan for everyday American life. This is for:
- Calling your landlord, university offices, doctors
- Data for Google Maps, Uber, campus apps
- Text verification codes for Amazon, Venmo, etc.
- Emergency 911 access
Phone 2: Your Taiwan Number (Chunghwa Telecom)
Keep your Taiwan number active but on the cheapest possible plan for:
- Taiwan bank mobile banking OTPs
- Family WhatsApp/LINE messages
- Government tax notices
- Receiving verification codes from Taiwan services
Most students use a dual-SIM phone (iPhone 14/15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23/S24) or keep an old phone just for the Taiwan SIM.
Best US Phone Plans for Taiwan Graduate Students
Nexitel Purple Plans (T-Mobile Network)
The Nexitel Purple Plans start at just $6/month and run on T-Mobile's nationwide 5G network. Perfect for students on tight budgets:
Purple $6 Plan:
- 500MB high-speed data
- Unlimited talk & text in USA
- Great for students who use campus WiFi 90% of the time
- Price: $6/month (about NT$195)
Purple $10 Plan:
- 1GB high-speed data
- Unlimited talk & text
- Better for off-campus students or those who commute
- Price: $10/month (about NT$325)
Purple $15 Plan:
- 3GB high-speed data
- Unlimited talk & text
- Ideal if you're apartment hunting or traveling around frequently
- Price: $15/month (about NT$490)
T-Mobile has excellent coverage in major university cities: Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Austin, and most college towns.
Nexitel Blue Plans (AT&T Network)
The Nexitel Blue Plans run on AT&T's network and start at $10/month:
Blue $10 Plan:
- 1GB high-speed data
- Unlimited talk & text
- Better rural coverage if your university is in a smaller town
- Price: $10/month (about NT$325)
Blue $15 Plan:
- 3GB high-speed data
- Unlimited talk & text
- Great for students who need reliable coverage everywhere
- Price: $15/month (about NT$490)
Blue $20 Plan:
- 6GB high-speed data
- Unlimited talk & text
- Perfect if you're doing a lot of research fieldwork or traveling
- Price: $20/month (about NT$650)
AT&T typically has stronger coverage in rural areas and the Midwest, where many excellent graduate programs are located.
Compare all options on our Plans page.
How to Keep Your Chunghwa Telecom Number Active
Many Taiwan students make the mistake of canceling their Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信), Taiwan Mobile, or FarEasTone number completely. Don't do this! You'll need it for:
- Taiwan bank accounts (Cathay, CTBC, E.Sun, First Bank)
- National Health Insurance updates
- Tax filing with 國稅局
- University transcripts from your Taiwan undergraduate school
- Job applications when you return
Option 1: Downgrade to Chunghwa's Cheapest Plan
Before you leave Taiwan, visit a Chunghwa Telecom store and:
- Downgrade to the minimum prepaid plan (around NT$100-150/month)
- Set up auto-payment from your Taiwan bank account
- Make sure international roaming is OFF (you don't want surprise charges)
Your parents can help manage this if needed.
Option 2: Use Nexi Volt for Emergency Top-Ups
If you're on Chunghwa prepaid and forgot to top up, use Nexi Volt to instantly recharge your Chunghwa Telecom number from the USA:
- Recharge Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信) online in minutes
- Also works for Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大), FarEasTone (遠傳電信)
- Pay with US credit/debit card
- No need to ask family to buy you a top-up card
This is essential when you need to receive a Taiwan bank OTP but realize your number expired.
Calling Your Family in Taiwan: The Affordable Way
International calling can drain your budget fast. Here's how to call Taiwan without breaking the bank:
Best Option: NexiTalk VoIP
NexiTalk is a VoIP service designed for international calls. Plans start at $4.99/month:
- Crystal-clear calls to Taiwan landlines and mobile numbers
- Much cheaper than traditional international calling
- Works over WiFi or your Nexitel data connection
- Call mom and dad on their Chunghwa numbers without worry
- International rates that make sense for graduate student budgets
You can use NexiTalk on your US phone with your Nexitel SIM while keeping your Taiwan number separate.
Alternative: Free Options (With Limitations)
- LINE — Great for video calls, but requires both sides to have good WiFi/data
- WhatsApp — Popular globally, but many Taiwan relatives use LINE instead
- FaceTime — Only works iPhone to iPhone or Mac to Mac
- Skype — Getting less popular but still works
The problem? Your grandparents or university advisor in Taiwan might not have smartphones or stable internet. That's when NexiTalk saves the day.
First Week Timeline: What to Do When
Before Leaving Taiwan (2-3 Weeks Before Departure)
- Unlock your phone — If you bought your iPhone/Samsung from Chunghwa or Taiwan Mobile, make sure it's carrier-unlocked
- Downgrade your Taiwan plan — Visit Chunghwa/Taiwan Mobile/FarEasTone and switch to the cheapest plan
- Set up auto-payment — Link your Taiwan bank account to prevent disconnection
- Test dual-SIM — Make sure your phone supports two SIMs (most modern phones do)
Day 1-2 in USA
- Get temporary WiFi — Use airport/hotel/campus WiFi to message family you've arrived safely
- Order your Nexitel SIM — Visit nexitel.us/plans and order a Purple or Blue plan
- Use temporary solutions — Some airports sell expensive tourist SIMs if you need immediate service
Day 3-5 in USA
- Activate your Nexitel SIM — Follow the simple activation instructions
- Set up NexiTalk — Get your VoIP calling ready at nexitel.us/nexi-talk
- Share your US number — Give it to your university, apartment office, academic advisor
- Configure dual-SIM — Set Nexitel as primary for data/calls, Taiwan SIM for receiving SMS only
Week 2-3 in USA
- Test everything — Make sure you can receive Taiwan bank OTPs on your Chunghwa number
- Set up Nexi Volt account — Create an account at nexitel.us/nexi-volt in case you need to top up your Taiwan number
- Verify 911 works — Test your Nexitel emergency calling (call 911 and immediately say "This is a test call, no emergency")
Real Student Scenarios: Which Plan is Right for You?
Scenario 1: CS Graduate Student at Stanford (Heavy Campus WiFi User)
Profile: Living in graduate housing, always on campus WiFi, occasional weekend trips to San Francisco
Best choice: Purple $6 or Purple $10 plan
- You're on eduroam WiFi 90% of the time
- T-Mobile has excellent Bay Area coverage
- 500MB-1GB is plenty for Google Maps and Uber on weekends
- Monthly cost: $6-10 (NT$195-325)
Scenario 2: Biology PhD at Cornell (Rural Campus)
Profile: Campus in Ithaca, NY (smaller town), frequent research trips to field sites, need reliable coverage everywhere
Best choice: Blue $15 or Blue $20 plan
- AT&T has stronger rural New York coverage
- 3-6GB for field research coordination
- Reliable calls in remote areas
- Monthly cost: $15-20 (NT$490-650)
Scenario 3: MBA Student at UCLA (High Mobility)
Profile: Off-campus apartment, networking events, internship interviews, frequent driving around Los Angeles
Best choice: Purple $15 plan
- T-Mobile excellent in LA metro area
- 3GB for navigation, LinkedIn, email on the go
- Unlimited talk for recruiter calls
- Monthly cost: $15 (NT$490)
Money-Saving Tips for Taiwan Students
- Use campus WiFi aggressively — Download maps, podcasts, music before leaving WiFi zones
- Share Netflix/Spotify with roommates — Download content on WiFi, not cellular data
- Video call family on WiFi — Schedule LINE calls when you're in your apartment on WiFi
- Avoid airport SIM cards — They charge $40-60 for what Nexitel offers for $6-15
- Don't roam your Taiwan SIM — Turn off roaming to avoid NT$500-1000/day charges
- Group orders — If multiple Taiwan students are arriving, order Nexitel SIMs together
Common Questions from Taiwan Students
Q: Can I port my Taiwan number to USA? No, and you don't want to. Keep your Taiwan number active for Taiwan services. Get a separate US number through Nexitel.
Q: Will my iPhone from Taiwan work in USA? Yes, if it's unlocked. iPhones sold in Taiwan support US LTE/5G bands.
Q: Can I use mobile payment apps? Your Taiwan apps (LINE Pay,街口支付) will still work for Taiwan purchases. For US apps (Venmo, Cash App), you'll need a US bank account and phone number.
Q: What about summer breaks back in Taiwan? Keep your Nexitel plan active (it's only $6-20/month). Some students pause and reactivate, but keeping it active ensures you don't lose your US number.
Q: Do I need international roaming? No! That's the point of Nexitel. You have a US plan for US use, and NexiTalk for calling Taiwan.
Your Action Plan This Week
Ready to get your phone situation sorted? Here's what to do:
- Choose your plan — Visit nexitel.us/plans and select Purple or Blue based on your university location
- Order your SIM — Get it delivered to your US address (campus mail center, apartment, hotel)
- Set up NexiTalk — Sign up at nexitel.us/nexi-talk for affordable calls to Taiwan
- Bookmark Nexi Volt — Save nexitel.us/nexi-volt for emergency Chunghwa Telecom top-ups
Your first semester is exciting enough without worrying about expensive phone bills or losing connection with family. Nexitel gives you reliable, affordable US service while keeping you connected to Taiwan.
Welcome to America, and welcome to affordable wireless that actually works for international students. Start with Nexitel today.