Expat & Traveller Guide: Calling Home for Less

Whether you work in the Gulf, study in Europe or travel for a few weeks, the same question keeps coming up: how do I stay in touch with family without a surprise bill, in a way my parents and older relatives are comfortable with? This guide collects practical tips based on official guidance — the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guide to roaming and the U.S. State Department’s advice on communicating abroad — plus our own experience with international calling.

Before you travel: an 8-point checklist

1. Ask your operator about roaming: the FCC advises understanding roaming rules and rates before you travel, as they vary widely between carriers, and confirming roaming is activated if you need it.
2. Make sure your phone is unlocked so you can use a local SIM or eSIM.
3. Check eSIM support: some phones take two SIMs (physical + eSIM), so you can keep your home number and add a local one.
4. Save important numbers in international format: +962 7X XXX XXXX rather than 07X…, so they work from any country.
5. Set a voicemail password: the FCC notes some voicemail systems let you in automatically from your own number, and a hacker could spoof your number to get in.
6. Learn the local emergency number at your destination — it varies by country and may require a local SIM.
7. Save your embassy’s number and emergency contacts in your phone and in your email.
8. Agree on a calling plan with family: will they call you on an app, or will you call them? At what times?

Roaming, local SIM or apps?

What works for most expats: a local SIM for data and daily life, apps for people who use them, and an internet-to-phone service for older relatives and landlines.

The “unknown number” problem: why family don’t answer

When you buy a local SIM abroad and call your mother, she sees a foreign number she doesn’t recognise. With so many scam warnings, many older people don’t answer unknown international numbers — which is sensible!

Solutions:

• Have your family save your new number straight away, with a clear name.
• Or use a service that shows your verified home number that they already know — as Fastidcall does — so the call reaches their ordinary phone with your familiar number.

Best times to call across time zones

Jordan is on UTC+3 all year. Some common examples:

• Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar: the same time as Jordan year-round.
• UAE and Oman: one hour ahead.
• Western and Central Europe: one to three hours behind, depending on the country and daylight saving.
• US East Coast: 7–8 hours behind. Evening in Jordan is morning in New York.

Tip: set a fixed weekly call with family. Regular calls reduce worry — and expensive urgent calls.

What does a call to Jordan from abroad cost?

If your family are on Jordanian mobile or landline numbers and don’t use apps, here are live Fastidcall rates for calling Jordan:

Destination	Type	Prefix	Rate	Billing (s)
Jordan	Mobile	+962791	$1.40/min	1/1
Jordan	Mobile	+962776	$1.40/min	1/1
Jordan	Landline	+96265	$1.26/min	1/1

Example: a weekly 10-minute call to a Jordanian mobile billed per second = 10 × the per-minute price above, plus the one-time line-opening fee for each answered call. Compare that with your local operator’s international rate to see which suits you.

Protecting family back home from scams

Expats can become the “bait” in scams targeting their families: a caller claims their son or daughter abroad is in trouble and needs an urgent transfer. Agree on:

• A family safe word to ask for on any emergency call.
• No money transfers before calling you on your known number.
• Never returning one-ring calls from unknown international numbers; the FCC warns this can lead to high charges.
• Never sharing verification codes with any caller.

While travelling: everyday money-saving tips

• Turn off automatic updates and downloads on roaming data.
• Use hotel or home Wi-Fi for long calls, and avoid sensitive calls on public networks.
• Track your usage in your phone settings.
• Carry a power bank — internet calls drain the battery faster.
• Keep a paper list of key numbers in case you lose your phone, as the State Department recommends.

Your home number: keep it, don’t cancel it

Many banking and government services send verification codes to your home number. Cancelling the line while abroad can cause problems logging in or recovering accounts. A common approach is to keep the line active on the cheapest plan, or put your original number on an eSIM alongside the local SIM if your phone supports it. Ask your operator and Jordan’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission about available options.

For students studying abroad

• Get a local SIM early: universities, banks and housing providers in your study country need a local number to contact and verify you.
• Have your family save your new number, while keeping your Jordanian number active for bank and government messages.
• A calling budget: set a monthly credit limit, use apps for long calls with people who use them, and regular-number calling for older relatives.
• Beware of scams aimed at students: calls claiming to be from immigration or the university demanding urgent payment. The FTC says real government agencies don’t call to threaten you and demand immediate payment.

For workers in the Gulf

• Know the local rules: some Gulf countries regulate internet voice services, so check the regulator’s website (such as the Communications, Space & Technology Commission in Saudi Arabia and the TDRA in the UAE).
• Compare international bundles: Gulf operators sometimes offer international bundles for specific destinations; compare them with the per-minute price of internet calling services.
• Weekly family calls: the weekend is Friday–Saturday in Jordan and Saudi Arabia (and Saturday–Sunday in the UAE since 2022), so pick a day when both sides are off — such as Friday evening or Saturday — for long family calls.
• A number your parents know: if your parents don’t answer Gulf numbers they don’t recognise, have them save your number, or use a service that shows your verified Jordanian number.

Frequently asked questions

Can I receive bank SMS while abroad?

Usually yes, if your home line is active and roaming allows incoming SMS. Ask your operator what receiving texts on roaming costs.

What’s the cheapest way to call parents who don’t use the internet?

Compare your local SIM’s international per-minute price where you live with internet-to-phone services. If you want them to see your familiar number, choose a service that shows your verified number.

Do I need a special app?

No. Fastidcall works in the browser with nothing to install, and the call reaches your family’s phone as a normal call.

Sources & further reading

1. FCC — International Roaming: Mobile Phone Use Abroad
2. U.S. Department of State — Communicating While Abroad
3. FCC — 'One Ring' Phone Scam
4. FCC — Caller ID Spoofing (voicemail security)
5. Telecommunications Regulatory Commission — Jordan (TRC)

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