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@bigstar1208 I bought a dual sim card phone and have TMobile(been a customer for 20years) using a virtual sim and bought a local sim so I have two lines on one phone.   TMobile for me is inexpensive I have five lines for $110/month.  I did switch off the  TMobile free/slow data and use the local card for data.  I read that if you use the data they might terminate you after two months.   My plan includes free text and .25/min for calls.  I have had two times where the text verify took too long to verify my login on my acct in the states but I eventually got on ok.  I ve used TMobile world program in probably 50 countries when I travelled for work and remember maybe one time they didn't have a network in a country that was off the beaten path.

Thanks for your information.

Trying to avoid having to maintain a US carrier if possible.

Some US banks will not allow a foreign number for 2FA, or even VOIP. I would check with your bank what forms of 2FA they allow. I have a phone in the US with family I use for 2FA.

Thanks

    Some US banks will not allow a foreign number for 2FA, or even VOIP. I would check with your bank what forms of 2FA they allow. I have a phone in the US with family I use for 2FA.
   

    -@Filamretire

Agree, check with your bank/s, Seems the US is very different to Australia as my 2 banks accept my Philippines number for one time passwords. I even set up an investment account with a bank from the Philippines while I am living here, no problems. Pick your bank I suppose.

Cheers, Steve.

I have a Vonage US number, and that works for 2FA with almost everyone. I think it didn't work with one institution or website, but I don't remember which.

The best setup for calling and texts is to buy a promo for whatever network you're on (probably best determined by which one gives you the best reception at home). The promos give you unli (unlimited) calls and texts and a certain amount of internet for a specific length of time. I prefer the ones that are good for 3 or even 6 months when available; the networks are constantly changing things. But if you want to call and text to outside of the Philippines, you have to have enough load (credit) in your phone account.

    I have a Vonage US number, and that works for 2FA with almost everyone. I think it didn't work with one institution or website, but I don't remember which.
The best setup for calling and texts is to buy a promo for whatever network you're on (probably best determined by which one gives you the best reception at home). The promos give you unli (unlimited) calls and texts and a certain amount of internet for a specific length of time. I prefer the ones that are good for 3 or even 6 months when available; the networks are constantly changing things. But if you want to call and text to outside of the Philippines, you have to have enough load (credit) in your phone account.
   

    -@bizwizard

I had bell south, then Vonage and then ooma and then ported my old landline number to magic jack which I use today as my USA number for actual phone calls. For text, magic jack does *not* work with the banks and CC's that I use. Maybe it would work for 2FA voice, but I haven't bothered. I happened to find out that my google voice worked very well for 2FA for my institutions so I have stuck with it. It is based on my magic jack landline number which meets GV requirements. I haven't found any 2FA that did NOT work with google voice but that does not mean there aren't any.  I believe I read on some forums that other expats had trouble with google voice where 2FA did not work. I guess what this means is that, in some cases we may need to stop using various institutions where 2FA does not work with any apps available to us. What a shame but so far, I myself am lucky.

Be careful about the people that recommend buying a USA T-Mobile international roaming plan and then using it here for 2FA. That will work temporarily but eventually, T-Mobile will see that you are only using the phone from overseas and drop your account. You may (will) get by for a while, maybe 6 months or even a year but not permanently. But if you travel back and forth to the US a lot, it may be a good solution.

@bigstar1208

I switched my phone number from my previous carrier over to Google Voice about 30 days before I arrived in the Philippines. Both of my banks successfully send texts. Everything works exactly as if I'm still in the US. It's really nice because my old school mom can still call me using my same US number..she refuses to get Messenger and I can't really blame her. I still get calls and texts regularly. I only had to pay $20 to transfer my number over to Google Voice. I still can't believe they don't have a monthly fee. I would pay a monthly fee if there was one but thankfully there is not. Also, the voicemails are conveniently put in text form so I don't have to actually listen to them. I highly recommend Google Voice for your US cellphone number.

    @bigstar1208 I bought a dual sim card phone and have TMobile(been a customer for 20years) using a virtual sim and bought a local sim so I have two lines on one phone.   TMobile for me is inexpensive I have five lines for $110/month.  I did switch off the  TMobile free/slow data and use the local card for data.  I read that if you use the data they might terminate you after two months.   My plan includes free text and .25/min for calls.  I have had two times where the text verify took too long to verify my login on my acct in the states but I eventually got on ok.  I ve used TMobile world program in probably 50 countries when I travelled for work and remember maybe one time they didn't have a network in a country that was off the beaten path.
   

    -@smithta63

I too have T-Mobile. Magenta Plus plan, two lines, two unlocked phones. Been here 15 months. I love T-Mobile for the free MLBTV. I just recently added an eSIM to one of the phones.

@nickfisher0640

Also, another benefit of bringing my US phone over here with Google Voice is that I can download apps still that my Philippines phone cannot download..like Western Union, MoneyGram ect. Having 2 phones is also beneficial because I can quickly and more easily Google something or look up something while on the other phone or while filling out something with the other phone that would be erased if I was to leave the page. These other guys using T-Mobile are getting royally screwed. I paid $20 and as long as I have Wi-Fi, which I always have because I share a hotspot from my Philippines phone when I'm out and I have Wi-Fi when I'm home, I can call the US anytime I want for free..and someone in the US can call me anytime they want..and I have the same number that I've had for many years.

@nickfisher0640Also, another benefit of bringing my US phone over here with Google Voice is that I can download apps still that my Philippines phone cannot download..like Western Union, MoneyGram ect....

Really? I purchased a Samsung android in the Philippines and have downloaded western union, Remitly, zoom, PayPal, wise...never bothered with MoneyGram... so based on that I think you are mistaken. You do have to go through a verification process with most of these. Some of these apps might also require a USA phone number and/or USA address which I have thru magic jack and google voice plus a us address location. Actually, I registered with Google Voice from here in the Philippines 5 years ago, basing it on my USA magic jack "landline" number (GV must be based on a USA legal phone number) using a VPN during registration. Not sure if that is possible today; it is possible that GV must be done in the USA now. I see no permanent benefit to having a US sim card here...it is hugely expensive by local pricing and eventually T-Mobile will cut you off; it could take a while. But it works for a while and for sure, it is an excellent 2FA international solution for international travelers in places where T-Mobile can roam. They apparently do not wish to violate Philippine law by being perceived as an unapproved permanent cell provider, only a Roaming partner and "roaming" is temporary as the name implies. If you google T-Mobile's terms on conditions for international roaming, this is clearly stated. My kids use it here during their short visits. Suggest people using T-Mobile as their only 2FA solution plan for a backup 2FA plan for when they *do* get cut off.  The same alternate 2FA solution will not apply for everybody but for me, (maybe not for you), GV works fine. Magic jack, upon which my GV number is based, cannot handle 2FA text for me...this is due to the type of IP text interface they use (most companies 2FA text will not accept it). But it works well for me with GV itself. Magic jack may accept voice 2FA rather than text, but I really haven't tried that yet.

    @nickfisher0640
Also, another benefit of bringing my US phone over here with Google Voice is that I can download apps still that my Philippines phone cannot download..like Western Union, MoneyGram ect. Having 2 phones is also beneficial because I can quickly and more easily Google something or look up something while on the other phone or while filling out something with the other phone that would be erased if I was to leave the page. These other guys using T-Mobile are getting royally screwed. I paid $20 and as long as I have Wi-Fi, which I always have because I share a hotspot from my Philippines phone when I'm out and I have Wi-Fi when I'm home, I can call the US anytime I want for free..and someone in the US can call me anytime they want..and I have the same number that I've had for many years.
   

    -@nickfisher0640

Thanks for that great message. Maybe it's our CHOICE mfer to stick with T-Mobile. I get every single baseball game televised for free. I like that. Playoffs, World Series, wtc. And my Banking apps work with the same signature US Phone as I used in the US. I CHOOSE to stick with that service and keep the same USA number I've had associated with my name for over 20 years. I ALSO have a Phils eSIM. Oh yea, and I don't effing need google voice, but I have it. As well as calling anyone I want with another US phone number for free from my Skype account. Get off your high horse mfer.

@danfinn

Western Union doesn't even show up on a Philippines phone at the Google Play store. Just checked my wife's phone so I know it's 100% true. MoneyGram is not available in this region..also just checked her phone. I was able to get Western Union and MoneyGram on my Philippines phone but that's because I inserted my US SIM card..otherwise it does not..or maybe because my Google account is from the US..idk can't remember but I'm 90% sure it's because I inserted my US SIM card.

@Larry Fisher

I get EVERY sports event...EVERY SINGLE SPORTS EVENT for $29 per month. Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, world cup, college sports, boxing, UFC..EVERYTHING. So your little "free baseball" while spending a ton for T-Mobile does not impress me at all.