Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for multi-universal subscriber identification module (USIM) and dual connectivity operation. A method that may be performed by a user equipment (UE) includes establishing a first access link, associated with a first subscriber identification module (SIM) of the UE, for communicating with a first base station; establishing a second access link, associated with the first SIM of the UE, for communicating with a second base station; establishing a third access link associated with a second SIM of the UE; identifying at least one time division multiplexing (TDM) pattern indicating a set of time periods during which to use the third access link; and tuning to the third access link for communicating using the second SIM during at least one time period of the set of time periods indicated in the TDM pattern.