How Far in Advance Do You Need to Schedule a Visit in Pennsylvania? (Resolving the 2-day vs 3-day IVS Conflict)

Pennsylvania’s DOC services page says all visits must be scheduled at least two days in advance through the Inmate Visitation System (IVS). But the IVS site itself uses different wording: it says visits must be scheduled at least three days in advance. That difference matters because IVS is the system you use to pick a time slot. So even if you’re following the DOC services page guidance, you can still run into an IVS lead-time limit that won’t let you complete your scheduling the way you expected.

For practical planning, treat the IVS rule as the one that controls what you can actually book: aim for a full 3-day lead time whenever you can. The DOC services page may say “2 days,” but if IVS requires 3 days for scheduling, trying to book at the 2-day mark can set you up for a frustrating dead end. If you’re trying to schedule close-in (especially around weekends or time off from work), build in a buffer and check what IVS will allow before you lock in travel plans. If there’s any doubt, contact the facility where your loved one is located to confirm what they’re currently accepting through IVS.

• ✓ Create an IVS account before you try to schedule
• ✓ Confirm you’re on the inmate’s authorized visitor list (you can’t schedule without it)
• ✓ Make sure your Keystone Login is working, since IVS uses it to verify your identity

One more planning limit that catches people off guard: IVS also says you can’t schedule visits more than 60 days in advance. If you’re trying to plan a trip far out, you’ll need to wait until you’re inside that window before the system will let you book.

After you schedule, keep an eye on the email tied to your IVS account. IVS sends automatic email notifications for status changes to your account or your visits. And if the facility needs to cancel your visit, you’ll get an automatic email notification that the visit is canceled. Before you assume you did something wrong, check your inbox (and spam/junk folders) for the most recent IVS message.

1. Sign in and check the visit status in IVS - confirm whether the visit shows as scheduled, changed, or canceled.
2. Read the latest IVS email notification - IVS sends automatic emails when an account or visit status changes, including when a facility cancels a visit.
3. Confirm you’re eligible to schedule - you must have an IVS account and be on the inmate’s authorized visitor list.
4. Try rescheduling inside the IVS time rules - plan for the 3-day minimum lead time.
5. Contact the facility if the message isn’t clear - the IVS site directs questions to the facility where your loved one is located.

Verify Before

• ✓ Re-check the most recent IVS email tied to your account for any status changes
• ✓ Confirm your visit still shows as scheduled in IVS
• ✓ Make sure your Keystone Login still works (IVS uses it to verify your identity)
• ✓ Confirm you’re on the inmate’s authorized visitor list (required to schedule)

If scheduling problems keep happening - especially if IVS and the emails you’re receiving don’t clearly explain what’s going on - start by contacting the facility where your loved one is located. Also keep in mind that in an emergency or extended disruption of normal operations, the DOC Secretary (or designee) may suspend any provision of the visiting policy (DC-ADM 812) for a specific period. If something suddenly changes across the board, it may be tied to a temporary suspension rather than anything you did in IVS.

1. Save proof of what happened - keep the IVS emails and note any errors or status changes you see.
2. Contact the facility where your loved one is located - that’s where IVS directs questions when you need help.
3. Ask whether there’s an emergency-related suspension affecting visits - during an emergency or extended disruption, DOC leadership may suspend parts of the visiting policy for a specific period.