If your phone says SOS ONLY or INVALID SIM or your iPhone is displaying a message saying "SIM Not Valid" (see below example) or your iPhone is asking to be connected to iTunes, then this means that you didn't get your phone unlocked before leaving for the USA.
To unlock an iPhone requires you to have connected your iPhone to iTunes and perform a full back up and restore of your iPhone. If you merely requested your iPhone be unlocked, but did not perform the full back up and restore in iTunes, then your iPhone remains network locked. We provided considerable information about the need to unlock your phone - this was clearly detailed (i) on our website (ii) in the order confirmation email (iii) on the card that came with your sim card and (iv) in the instructions provided with your sim card (see further details below).
An example of the message displayed on an iPhone is shown below, and this message confirms that your phone is locked:
Note the text of the message above: "SIM Not Valid.... request that this iPhone be unlocked by your carrier."
Unfortunately some people think their phone is unlocked when in fact it's not unlocked.
Sorry, but there's nothing we can do to unlock your phone. Your USA sim card is active and ready for use in an unlocked phone. If you have an iPhone and failed to complete the backup and restore in iTunes, then the Apple Store may be able to assist. Under no circumstances can we refund your purchase if you failed to unlock your phone. Please click here to read more information about unlocking your phone.
Here are the various times we told you that your phone needs to be unlocked:
1. On our website.
2. In the order confirmation email.
3. On the card that came with your sim card.
4. In the activation instructions you were required to read.
