Visitation Applications, the $25 Background Fee, Vendor Fees, and How to Avoid Rejection

If you're an adult applying to visit, expect to pay a one-time, non-refundable $25 background check fee. This covers in-person visits, phone visits, and video visits, and it's required under Department Order 911.

One common exception: if you only want to accept phone calls from an inmate (not apply for visits), you don't have to pay the $25 background check fee. You'll still need to apply for phone privileges through the regular application process.

Vendor Fees

• ✓ Keefe (internet transaction): No fee
• ✓ JPay (internet transaction): $0.95
• ✓ GTL (CheckFreePay) (internet transaction): $1.00
• ✓ GTL (Western Union) (internet transaction): $1.00

Timing trips up a lot of applicants. Your background check fee and any required supporting documents must be received within 30 days of the application date. Miss that window, and the application is considered incomplete. It won't be processed.

Even after everything is received, processing isn't instant. Allow 60 days from when your payment (if applicable) and supporting documents are in.

Common Mistakes

• ✓ The applicable fee and/or required supporting documents were not received within 30 days of the application date.
• ✓ You submitted the application while the inmate was in the intake process at Alhambra.
• ✓ You submitted the application while the inmate was in the intake process at Perryville.

1. Find out what’s missing. The application can be marked incomplete if the applicable fee and/or required supporting documents were not received within 30 days of your application date.
2. Get the missing items received as fast as you can. The key is making sure the required payment (if applicable) and supporting documentation are received.
3. Give it the full processing window once complete. After the required payment (if applicable) and supporting documentation are received, allow up to 60 days for processing.

When paying the $25 background check fee online for an adult visitation application (in-person, phone, or video), you may see an extra transaction fee depending on which payment option you choose. Here's what to expect: Keefe (no fee), JPay ($0.95), GTL via CheckFreePay ($1.00), and GTL via Western Union ($1.00).