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Topic: Cell phone help  (Read 1976 times)

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Cell phone help
« on: December 27, 2018, 01:33:25 AM »
Hi all! I'm hoping someone can help with my cell phone questions while I'm anxiously awaiting my visa decision! I have an iPhone SE through Sprint. It's paid in full and I'm on a month to month contract currently because I've been with them so long. I went to the Apple store a couple days ago to get my battery replaced while they're running the $29 Christmas special. The "genius" at the store wasn't able to tell me definitely if my phone will work in the UK if unlocked. I haven't gotten the battery replaced yet because I wanted to try to get an answer first... No use replacing it I can't use the phone a month from now. Does anyone have experience unlocking this phone type or any Sprint phone and using it with a new sim card once I move to the UK???
Met the love of my life: October 1, 2017
Engaged to be married: April 8, 2018
USA wedding: November 19, 2018
Application type: Priority
Online application submitted: November 19, 2018
Biometrics taken & docs sent: November 23, 2018
Documents delivered to NYC: November 26, 2018
Application received email: December 15, 2018
Email request for "missing" docs: January 4, 2019
Decision made email: January 7, 2019 (28 WD)
Passport received: January 8, 2019 (Approved)
Moved to Scotland: January 30, 2019
UK wedding: March 30, 2019


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2018, 06:05:50 AM »
I had a iPhone 6s plus from AT&T and it was paid for. I submitted an unlock request through their website and then was able to just buy a new SIM card here and had zero issues.
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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2018, 08:38:52 AM »
MAybe you could phone apple in the uk if you look for their number online or try to phone a Uk mobile company
My home for 18 years since June 2002. Became a citizen 2006


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2018, 03:34:47 PM »
I had a iPhone 6s plus from AT&T and it was paid for. I submitted an unlock request through their website and then was able to just buy a new SIM card here and had zero issues.
I am more worried about it being a Sprint phone because I read they don't transfer. However, I do have a sim slot on the phone which makes me think it can.
Met the love of my life: October 1, 2017
Engaged to be married: April 8, 2018
USA wedding: November 19, 2018
Application type: Priority
Online application submitted: November 19, 2018
Biometrics taken & docs sent: November 23, 2018
Documents delivered to NYC: November 26, 2018
Application received email: December 15, 2018
Email request for "missing" docs: January 4, 2019
Decision made email: January 7, 2019 (28 WD)
Passport received: January 8, 2019 (Approved)
Moved to Scotland: January 30, 2019
UK wedding: March 30, 2019


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2018, 04:46:25 PM »
I am more worried about it being a Sprint phone because I read they don't transfer. However, I do have a sim slot on the phone which makes me think it can.

Yea sorry I can't say for sure. I would ask sprint or whatever company you're planning on using here. Otherwise just a gamble.
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Approved: 1 May 2018

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Approved: 16 June 2021

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Approved: 29 August 2023


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2018, 06:47:27 PM »
From what I've read as long as it's fully unlocked, the newer (6 and more recent) iPhones will work on all networks, but you may want to double check the band of the carrier you plan on using in the UK and confirm the phone supports it. Older sprint iphones and some other manufacturers only support sprint's CDMA network, which isn't used in the UK at all.

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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2018, 08:04:52 PM »
Hi all! I'm hoping someone can help with my cell phone questions while I'm anxiously awaiting my visa decision! I have an iPhone SE through Sprint. It's paid in full and I'm on a month to month contract currently because I've been with them so long. I went to the Apple store a couple days ago to get my battery replaced while they're running the $29 Christmas special. The "genius" at the store wasn't able to tell me definitely if my phone will work in the UK if unlocked. I haven't gotten the battery replaced yet because I wanted to try to get an answer first... No use replacing it I can't use the phone a month from now. Does anyone have experience unlocking this phone type or any Sprint phone and using it with a new sim card once I move to the UK???
I have an iphone too but am disconnecting it and using a Sony Exepria brought for me in Oct.. The cost difference is crazy.. I was paying over $110.00 per month with Sprint and now it's around 15 pounds a month for basically the same things and the phone, although smaller, works great so far.
Found My Soulmate 12/2017
Engaged : 6/15/2018
Married : 10/28/2018
Priority Spouse Online App Submitted : 11/19/2018
Biometrics appointment : 11/23/2018
Docs sent to NY : 11/23/2018
Doc received in NY : 11/26/2018
Docs received in Sheffield email :12/21/2018
Email requesting proof of Priority Service : 1/26/2019
Email stating "technical issue which is delaying this application : 1/30/2019
Email requesting bank statements to be re-sent : 2/14/2019
2nd Email requesting bank statements: 3/4/19
Decision made email: 3/6/19
Visa : YESS 3/7/19 (70BD)


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2018, 08:24:19 PM »
I have an iphone too but am disconnecting it and using a Sony Exepria brought for me in Oct.. The cost difference is crazy.. I was paying over $110.00 per month with Sprint and now it's around 15 pounds a month for basically the same things and the phone, although smaller, works great so far.

$110 is a crazy amount of money for a contract!

I have a UK iPhone SE and when I first got it on a 2-year contract I was paying £34 per month for the phone plus unlimited calls and texts, and 4GB of data.

Now that my contract has ended, I’ve switched to SIM-only on the same iPhone, which is £15 per month for unlimited calls and texts plus 12GB data.


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2018, 08:27:33 PM »
$110 is a crazy amount of money for a contract!

I have a UK iPhone SE and when I first got it on a 2-year contract I was paying £34 per month for the phone plus unlimited calls and texts, and 4GB of data.

Now that my contract has ended, I’ve switched to SIM-only on the same iPhone, which is £15 per month for unlimited calls and texts plus 12GB data.


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Oh I agree...  It's nutz to pay that much .. I would keep my iPhone but the screen is cracked and has other major issues... The 15 for the same thing is awesome and.. It has a much better camera than the iPhone. The small screen is taking a bit of getting used to
Found My Soulmate 12/2017
Engaged : 6/15/2018
Married : 10/28/2018
Priority Spouse Online App Submitted : 11/19/2018
Biometrics appointment : 11/23/2018
Docs sent to NY : 11/23/2018
Doc received in NY : 11/26/2018
Docs received in Sheffield email :12/21/2018
Email requesting proof of Priority Service : 1/26/2019
Email stating "technical issue which is delaying this application : 1/30/2019
Email requesting bank statements to be re-sent : 2/14/2019
2nd Email requesting bank statements: 3/4/19
Decision made email: 3/6/19
Visa : YESS 3/7/19 (70BD)


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2018, 09:43:38 PM »
$110 is a crazy amount of money for a contract!

I have a UK iPhone SE and when I first got it on a 2-year contract I was paying £34 per month for the phone plus unlimited calls and texts, and 4GB of data.

Now that my contract has ended, I’ve switched to SIM-only on the same iPhone, which is £15 per month for unlimited calls and texts plus 12GB data.


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That's how much I was paying for unlimited data and an iPhone 4S back in 2014. Phone plans aren't cheap on the US. It's absolutely mental. Even a sim only plan was $24.99 a month when I visited back in 2015.
The usual. American girl meets British guy. They fall into like, then into love. Then there was the big decision. The American traveled across the pond to join the Brit. And life was never the same again.


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2018, 03:53:16 AM »
It's always nice when something's actually cheaper in the UK!  :)


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2018, 04:20:14 AM »
It's always nice when something's actually cheaper in the UK!  :)
Haha. I’m finding quite a lot of things cheaper than here, at least in Texas .. food , rent , medical insurance.. at my work for family of 4 is over 1700.00 a month wow


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Found My Soulmate 12/2017
Engaged : 6/15/2018
Married : 10/28/2018
Priority Spouse Online App Submitted : 11/19/2018
Biometrics appointment : 11/23/2018
Docs sent to NY : 11/23/2018
Doc received in NY : 11/26/2018
Docs received in Sheffield email :12/21/2018
Email requesting proof of Priority Service : 1/26/2019
Email stating "technical issue which is delaying this application : 1/30/2019
Email requesting bank statements to be re-sent : 2/14/2019
2nd Email requesting bank statements: 3/4/19
Decision made email: 3/6/19
Visa : YESS 3/7/19 (70BD)


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Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2018, 04:39:49 AM »
Well I went to Sprint tonight and they were able to unlock it for me. So I'm just going to get the battery replaced while Apple is still running their special until the end of the year for $29. Then I'll be good to go. Just need that pesky visa approval now 🤔
Met the love of my life: October 1, 2017
Engaged to be married: April 8, 2018
USA wedding: November 19, 2018
Application type: Priority
Online application submitted: November 19, 2018
Biometrics taken & docs sent: November 23, 2018
Documents delivered to NYC: November 26, 2018
Application received email: December 15, 2018
Email request for "missing" docs: January 4, 2019
Decision made email: January 7, 2019 (28 WD)
Passport received: January 8, 2019 (Approved)
Moved to Scotland: January 30, 2019
UK wedding: March 30, 2019


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  • Posts: 912

  • It's never too late to live happily ever after
  • Liked: 219
  • Joined: Aug 2018
  • Location: Texas
Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2018, 04:40:46 AM »
Well I went to Sprint tonight and they were unable to unlock it for me. So I'm just going to get the battery replaced while Apple is still running their special until the end of the year for $29. Then I'll be good to go. Just need that pesky visa approval now
Oh yay. Nice to know that.  Oh my gosh, I hope we hear soon


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Found My Soulmate 12/2017
Engaged : 6/15/2018
Married : 10/28/2018
Priority Spouse Online App Submitted : 11/19/2018
Biometrics appointment : 11/23/2018
Docs sent to NY : 11/23/2018
Doc received in NY : 11/26/2018
Docs received in Sheffield email :12/21/2018
Email requesting proof of Priority Service : 1/26/2019
Email stating "technical issue which is delaying this application : 1/30/2019
Email requesting bank statements to be re-sent : 2/14/2019
2nd Email requesting bank statements: 3/4/19
Decision made email: 3/6/19
Visa : YESS 3/7/19 (70BD)


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  • Posts: 187

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  • Joined: Sep 2018
  • Location: Cincinnati, OH
Re: Cell phone help
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2018, 04:43:00 AM »
Oh yay. Nice to know that.  Oh my gosh, I hope we hear soon


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know, I had a complete breakdown last night. And my poor Alasdair woke up to about twenty text messages of me sobbing over everything.
Met the love of my life: October 1, 2017
Engaged to be married: April 8, 2018
USA wedding: November 19, 2018
Application type: Priority
Online application submitted: November 19, 2018
Biometrics taken & docs sent: November 23, 2018
Documents delivered to NYC: November 26, 2018
Application received email: December 15, 2018
Email request for "missing" docs: January 4, 2019
Decision made email: January 7, 2019 (28 WD)
Passport received: January 8, 2019 (Approved)
Moved to Scotland: January 30, 2019
UK wedding: March 30, 2019


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