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Calling IRCC from outland when your usual calling app (like Viber) stops connecting

Canada • Permanent Resident • immigration 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Step-by-Step

A member in the UK who'd been using Viber to call IRCC found the number stopped connecting after roughly two weeks, and asked which app and number were currently working.

What the thread suggested:
  1. TextNow, TextMe, or Numero were suggested as alternatives, though they're generally paid services (roughly $15–20/month for services like TextMe).

  2. TextNow is technically intended for US and Canadian local numbers, but some UK-based members reported being able to register on it anyway and use it for calls/texts — worth trying first since it can be free, though it requires staying logged in continuously without repeatedly logging out and back in.

  3. If TextNow doesn't work for your situation, TextMe was described as a reliable paid alternative, at roughly $18/month for unlimited minutes and texts.


The practical takeaway: if your usual outland calling method to IRCC stops working, try registering on TextNow first since it can be used for free in some cases, and fall back to a paid option like TextMe (around $18/month) if that doesn't work.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: Try TextNow first — it's intended for US/Canada numbers but some UK-based users have registered and used it successfully, often for free.
  • Tip: TextMe is a reliable paid fallback (around $18/month) if TextNow doesn't work for your situation.

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