Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Visitation

Applying for Visitation at Phoenix West: Fees, Timelines, and What to Expect

Applying to visit at Phoenix West is straightforward once you know the fee rules, deadlines, and how long processing takes. The sections below will help you avoid paying when you don't have to, and keep your application from stalling over missing paperwork.

• 3 min read Verified from official sources

If you're an adult applying for in-person visits, phone visits, or video visits, you'll need to pay a one-time, non-refundable $25 background check fee. Here's the exception that saves people money: if you only want phone-only privileges (meaning you just want to accept phone calls from the inmate), you don't have to pay the $25 fee. You still need to apply, but you do it through the regular phone-privileges application process.

Note: If you're applying for phone-only privileges (accepting calls only), skip the $25 background check fee. Paying it anyway won't change the phone-only requirement.

  1. Complete the visitation application fully: Fill out every required field before you submit. Incomplete information can slow everything down.
  2. Submit the application and watch for your Application Visitor ID: You will need this ID to pay.
  3. Pay electronically using your Application Visitor ID: All payments for the visitation/background check must be made electronically, and the Application Visitor ID is required when you submit payment.

Tip: Save your Application Visitor ID somewhere easy to find. You will need it when you submit the electronic payment.

The clock starts on your application date. Any applicable background check fee and all required supporting documents must be received within 30 days. Miss that window, and your application is considered incomplete. It won't be processed.

Once the required payment (if applicable) and supporting documents are received, allow up to 60 days for processing.

How to Pay Vendor Fees

  • ✓ Pay the visitation/background check fee electronically (paper payments are not accepted).
  • ✓ Have your Application Visitor ID ready before you start the payment.
  • ✓ Double-check that the ID you enter matches your application before you submit.

Plan for extra transaction fees on top of the $25 background check fee. The amount varies depending on which vendor you use and how you pay. ADCRR lists fee differences by vendor and payment method, with examples that include JPay and GTL options for internet, mobile app, telephonic, and storefront transactions. If you have a choice of payment method, compare vendor and method fees first. Picking a different method can mean a different transaction fee for the same $25 background check.

Processing can take longer during ADCRR system changes. If you've submitted everything correctly and you're still waiting past the expected timeline, a system transition may be causing the delay.

Phoenix West visitation email: PHX.WEST.VIDVIS@AZADC.GOV

Need to update your visitor phone information? ADCRR provides unit-specific request links on its visitation site. Look for the page listing visitor information change requests, then select the link that matches your unit.

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Comparing Vendor Fees: The Real Cost of Paying Your $25 Visitation Background Check

That "$25 background check" can cost more than $25 once vendor transaction fees get tacked on. Here's how the common payment vendors compare, and how to keep those extra charges as low as possible.

Do You Have to Pay the $25 Fee If You Only Accept Phone Calls from an Inmate?

No. If you only want to accept phone calls from an inmate - and you're not applying for in-person or video visits - you don't have to pay the $25 background check fee. That fee is required for adult visitors applying for in-person/phone and video visits under Department Order 911, but ADCRR makes a specific exception for phone-only contacts.

How Long It Takes to Get Approved for Visits at Phoenix West (what the 60‑day timeline means)

Waiting for visitation approval is stressful - especially when you're trying to plan ahead. At Phoenix West, ADCRR tells applicants to expect a 60-day processing window, starting after they've received your payment (if required) and any supporting documents.