Entering and Returning International Student Check-in Requirements

The standard U.S. telephone number is 10 digits, e.g. (555) 555-1234. The first three digits are the "area code," which, in the past, indicated in what part of the country the phone was located. You do not need to enter the country code.

For Berklee College of Music Students:

• Login to my.berklee.edu. Click on "My Profile" and then "Contact and Notification Preferences." Enter your U.S.-based mobile phone number and click "Submit."

For Boston Conservatory at Berklee Students:

• Login to Self-Service to update your U.S. mobile phone number.

Remember to update your U.S. or home country addresses within 10 days of moving. ISS will then update your SEVIS record(Opens in a new window) with your new address.

Enter your full street address, including an apartment number (if applicable) and the ZIP code. Use the United States Postal Service (USPS) ZIP Code Lookup tool(Opens in a new window) to check that you are formatting your address correctly.

For Berklee College of Music Students:

• On-campus students: you do not need to update your address. Your on-campus address will automatically appear in your account. You only need to add your U.S. phone number.
• Off-campus students: login to my.berklee.edu. Click on "My Profile" and then "Local Address Verification." In the gray box, select "This semester I will be living in the U.S., but not in Berklee resident housing." Click "Submit."

For Boston Conservatory at Berklee Students:

• Login to Self-Service to update your address.

All students are required to have a local (Boston area) address and current U.S.-based (10-digit) mobile phone number to check in. This is a requirement placed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for students enrolled in colleges/universities within the state.

We encourage you to get a U.S. mobile phone number as soon as possible so you do not experience delays during check-in. You may get a U.S. mobile phone number through any major U.S. mobile phone carrier, such as T-Mobile(Opens in a new window), Verizon(Opens in a new window), or AT&T(Opens in a new window); or through an app or web-based service such as Skype(Opens in a new window). Budget-friendly alternatives to major U.S. mobile phone carriers include Google Fi(Opens in a new window), Mint Mobile(Opens in a new window), and Visible(Opens in a new window).

CampusSIMs(Opens in a new window) provides free SIM cards to international students. If you would like to order one for use here in the United States, please complete the link below and a SIM card will be mailed to you: https://forms.gle/y19HCry3X9iU1L8K7(Opens in a new window)

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If you get a U.S. mobile phone number through an app or other web-based service, you must install the app on your mobile phone so you can receive text messages and phone calls wherever you are. 

To get a free US phone number, you can use several apps and online services that offer virtual numbers. These numbers work just like regular phone numbers but are operated through the Internet. They allow you to make and receive calls, send texts, and even set up voicemail.

You can get a free U.S. number using the following apps:

1. CallHippo
2. TextNow
3. Google Voice
4. Skype

Note: These platforms often provide free basic features with the option to upgrade to more advanced services. 

How to Get a Free U.S. Number Using CallHippo

• Step 1: Go to the CallHippo website (https://callhippo.com/(Opens in a new window)).
• Step 2: From the list, choose the US area code that you desire. 
  • Boston area codes: 617, 508, 857, 781, 978, 774, 351
  • New York City area codes: 212, 917, 718, 646
• Step 3: Select a toll-free local or US phone number.
• Step 4: You can add users and link your number to the selected virtual number.
• Step 5: Start making calls immediately.

 How to Get a Textnow Free U.S. Phone Number

• Step 1: Download the application (https://www.textnow.com/(Opens in a new window)).
• Step 2: Open the app and register once it has finished downloading.
• Step 3: Enter your email address and create a password if you’re registering using an email.
• Step 4: You must now enter the area code from your selected US city. 
  • Boston area codes: 617, 508, 857, 781, 978, 774, 351
  • New York City area codes: 212, 917, 718, 646
• Step 5: From the list, choose the phone number that you desire.

How To Get a Free U.S. Number Using Google Voice

• Step 1: Use an app that provides free and paid numbers.
• Step 2: Use a VPN service to change your location to the US.
• Step 3: You can now get a Google voice number (https://voice.google.com(Opens in a new window))
  • Google Voice requires you to link your new virtual number to an existing phone number for verification purposes.

How to Get a U.S. Phone Number Using Skype

• Step 1: Visit the Skype number page (https://www.skype.com(Opens in a new window))
• Step 2: Select the country as the United States, where you want to purchase the number.
• Step 3: Click on Continue.
• Step 4: Follow the instructions.

Information about how to get a free U.S. phone number was provided by CallHippo(Opens in a new window).