Keeping your US number and accounts working in China

Your Chinese phone number runs your daily life in Shanghai. Your US phone number keeps you from getting locked out of your life back home. You need both.

The short version

Most US banks, brokers and government sites send login codes by text. If your US number dies, you can lose access to your own money.
You can keep your US carrier plan, move to a cheaper plan, or port the number to an internet phone (VoIP) service. Under FCC rules, you keep your number when you switch providers in the same area [1].
Don't cancel your old plan before the port goes through [1].
Some VoIP services take back numbers that sit idle. Google says it may reclaim a Google Voice number that looks unused for 3 months [2].
US apps and websites can be slow or blocked on Chinese networks, and the State Department warns that phones and internet use in China may be monitored [3].

Why the US number matters

Back home in the States, your phone number is your ID. Banks, brokerages, your 401(k) provider, credit card issuers and plenty of government services use it for two-factor authentication (2FA). Lose the number, and the next time a bank flags a login from Shanghai, the code goes to a phone you no longer have. Fixing that from the other side of the Pacific can mean hours on hold, and sometimes a notarized form.

So before you leave, decide where your US number will live.

Your options for the number

Option	What it costs you	Watch out for
Keep your current carrier plan	A full monthly bill, plus roaming if the SIM is in China	Expensive for something you mostly use for codes
Switch to a cheaper prepaid or low-cost plan	A smaller monthly bill	Some plans expire if you don't top up or use them
Port the number to a VoIP service	Usually a small fee or low monthly cost	Some banks won't send codes to VoIP numbers
Let it go and use a new VoIP number	Cheapest	You'll have to update every account, and some won't accept it

Prices change too often to quote here, so compare current plans before you move.

Porting to a VoIP service

Porting moves your existing number to a new provider, which can be an internet calling service you use through an app. The FCC says you can keep your number when you change providers in the same geographic area, including between wireless and IP providers, and that your old company can't refuse to port because you owe it money [1]. Simple ports are supposed to be processed within one business day [1].

The steps:

Do it before you leave the US, while you can still receive texts on your current SIM. Porting from China is possible but harder.
Pick a VoIP service that accepts ported numbers and has an app that works from where you'll be. Check whether it charges for porting.
Get your account number and transfer PIN from your current carrier. Most US carriers now issue a special port-out PIN.
Start the port with the new provider and keep your old service active. The FCC's advice is not to end service with your current provider before you've started service with the new one [1].
Test it. Have someone text the number, then try a 2FA login from a test account.
Keep it active. Google's policy says it may reclaim a Google Voice number that looks unused for 3 months, and it sends warning emails first [2]. Other services have their own rules. Send a text now and then.

The VoIP catch

Some banks and services won't send verification codes to VoIP numbers. That's the biggest reason some Americans keep a cheap cellular plan instead. Before porting, check your main bank, brokerage and credit card. If even one critical account refuses VoIP, either keep a real cellular line or switch that account to another 2FA method.

Moving 2FA off text messages

The sturdiest setup is to depend on texts as little as possible:

Authenticator apps. Many banks and brokers now support app-based codes or push approvals. They work over Wi-Fi without a US SIM.
Security keys. Physical keys work for some email and investment accounts.
Backup codes. Print the one-time backup codes that many services offer and keep them somewhere safe.
A trusted US contact. Some accounts let you add a second number. A family member stateside can be a lifeline.

Make the switch before you fly, one account at a time, while your old setup still works. Start with email, since it's the key to resetting everything else.

US bank apps and Chinese networks

China filters much of the internet, and many US services, including Google's, don't load normally on Chinese networks. Some US banking apps work fine in China, some are slow, and some flag or block a login from an unfamiliar country. Our guide to internet in China, VPNs and the Great Firewall covers the connection side.

Practical habits:

Tell your bank you'll be abroad, and ask how it handles logins from China.
Test every money app in your first week, not the day a bill is due.
Expect location flags. A sudden login from a new country, or through a VPN server in a third country, can trigger a lockout. Have your 2FA backup ready.
Keep a US credit card with no foreign transaction fee for travel and online purchases, but know that daily life in Shanghai runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay. The State Department notes that mobile payment apps dominate and some foreign credit cards are less widely accepted [3].

The State Department also warns that hotel rooms, phones, internet use and digital payments in China may be monitored [3]. Use strong passwords, keep your phone updated and think before logging in on shared or hotel computers.

Mail back home

Your US mail doesn't stop when you move. Bank statements, IRS notices, jury summonses and the occasional renewal letter will keep coming. The usual approaches:

Approach	How it works	Good for
A trusted relative's address	Family opens and scans what matters	Simple and cheap, if family doesn't mind
A virtual mailbox service	A company receives your mail, scans the envelope and opens on request	Privacy and control
Going paperless	E-statements and online notices	Cuts volume a lot

Things to check:

Some banks restrict mailbox-service addresses, and a few close accounts with no US address. Our guide to keeping a US bank account and US address goes deeper.
Your mailing address can affect state taxes. Using a relative's address in a high-tax state isn't automatically a problem, but it's a factor. A US expat tax preparer can check your situation.
Shipping physical items to China is slower and pricier than mail stateside, so don't ask family to forward everything.

A pre-departure checklist

Decide the future of your US number: keep, downgrade or port. Do it while you're still in the US.
Move critical accounts to an authenticator app or a security key.
Print backup codes for email, banks and brokers.
Update your address with banks, the IRS and your state, if you're changing it.
Turn on paperless statements.
Enroll in STEP, so the US Embassy and the Consulate General in Shanghai can reach you in an emergency [4].
Ask how others do it. Members of our community group for Americans in China trade notes on which apps and services are working right now.

Keeping your US phone number and accounts working in China: 2FA codes, porting, bank apps and mail