When an inmate arrives at a new facility, phone access does not begin immediately. There is an intake and orientation process that typically takes one to two weeks before your husband will have the ability to place calls. During that window he is being processed, assigned to housing, and meeting with his unit team. Phone and visitation lists cannot be submitted until that process is underway.
Here is what you can do right now to be ready when he is.
Find out which phone carrier the new facility uses. Most federal facilities use the Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System through the BOP, while state facilities use contracted providers like GTL, Securus, or ICSolutions depending on the state. A quick call to the facility's main number can confirm this.
Set up an account with that carrier. You do not need to wait for your husband to call first. Creating a prepaid account in advance means that as soon as his phone access is established and your number is on his approved list, he can call without any additional delays on your end.
If the calls will be long distance, InmateAid's discount telephone service can provide a local number that routes to your existing phone. That brings the per-minute cost down significantly from what long distance rates would otherwise be. Once your husband has phone access and submits the local number for approval, calls come through at local rates.
Send a letter in the meantime. Letters do not require the same approval process as phone access and can reach him during the orientation period. Include your phone number clearly in the letter so he has it when he is ready to call.