How to Apply for Visitation at Gila Unit: Step-by-Step Guide
Getting approved to visit someone at Gila Unit takes paperwork and patience. You'll submit your application electronically, pay any required fees, send supporting documents within 30 days, then wait for a decision. Here's how to navigate the process without hitting common snags.
Want to visit someone at Gila Unit or be approved for phone call privileges? You'll need to go through the Arizona Department of Corrections application process. Everyone who applies gets a criminal background check - even if you've visited at other facilities before.
Don’t apply during intake: Do not submit a visitation application while the inmate is in the intake process at Alhambra or Perryville.
Start by filling out the online Application to Visit an Inmate. Complete every field - the system won't let you submit until it's fully filled in, and you're certifying that your information is truthful. Once you submit, save your Application Visitor ID number. You'll need it to pay the background check fee.
After the Department makes a decision, the inmate gets notified first. They're responsible for letting you know whether you've been approved, so factor in time for that message to reach you.
Most adult visitors need to pay a background check fee. If you're applying for in-person, phone, or video visits, there's a one-time, non-refundable $25 fee. Paying the fee doesn't replace the application - everyone still goes through the full background check process.
Phone-only exception: If you only want to accept phone calls, you don’t have to pay the $25 fee - but you still must apply for phone privileges using the regular application process.
- ✓ Pay electronically using one of the approved vendors: Keefe, JPay, or GTL.
- ✓ Have your Application Visitor ID number ready when you submit your payment.
- ✓ Use an electronic option that works for you (storefront/walk-up, phone, mobile app, or internet), as long as it’s through one of the approved vendors.
30-day deadline: Any applicable background check fee and any required supporting documents must be received within 30 days of your application date, or your application will be considered incomplete and won’t be processed.
Pay the background check fee electronically, and don't wait until the deadline. You'll need your Application Visitor ID number to submit payment, so keep it handy from the moment you finish your application.
After the Department receives your payment (if required) and any supporting documents, expect up to 60 days for processing. If you're planning travel or time off work, don't count on a quick turnaround - build that window into your plans.
Note: During Department of Corrections system changes, processing may be delayed beyond the normal timeline.
Need help with your Gila Unit visitation application? If you're past the expected processing window after submitting your payment and documents, email dou.gil.vidvis@azadc.gov.
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