Scheduling Visits at Chippewa CF: The 48‑Hour Rule, 7‑Day Window, and the Oct. 25 8:00 a.m. Change
Scheduling a visit at Chippewa Correctional Facility comes down to hitting the right window, and there's one timing change starting Oct. 25, 2025 you'll want to know about.
Chippewa CF requires you to schedule visits at least 48 hours ahead, but no more than 7 days in advance. Miss either boundary and the system won't accept your request. This means you can't book for tomorrow, and you can't lock in a date weeks out. When planning, pick your visit date first. Then count backward to make sure you're outside the 48-hour cutoff, and forward to confirm you're within the 7-day window.
Example: If you want a Friday visit, the earliest you can schedule is the Friday one week before. The latest you can schedule is Wednesday, because you must schedule at least 48 hours ahead.
Even if you schedule within the window, visits can still get cancelled if the facility or a specific housing unit goes on outbreak or quarantine. If you have travel plans or limited days off, keep an eye on facility updates so you are not caught off guard.
All visits (in-person and video) are scheduled through the Michigan DOC Visitation Scheduling website, hosted by ViaPath (formerly GTL). Here's the catch: you can't create or schedule anything until your MDOC visiting application has been approved. If you keep hitting a wall trying to book, this is usually why. Get approved first, then register and schedule through ViaPath.
- ✓ Your MDOC visiting application is approved
- ✓ Your ViaPath account is created and you can sign in successfully
- ✓ Your contact information in your ViaPath profile is current
Starting Oct. 25, 2025, visiting time slots will be released at 8:00 a.m. instead of midnight. If you're used to checking right after the date turns over, shift your routine to the morning.
This matters most when you're trying to grab a slot the moment it enters the 7-day window. Before Oct. 25, new slots appeared at midnight. After Oct. 25, they appear at 8:00 a.m. So if you log in at 12:05 a.m. expecting fresh openings, you won't see them. Check again after 8:00 a.m.
Reminder: Starting Oct. 25, 2025, set an 8:00 a.m. reminder for the days you plan to schedule. That is when new visiting time slots will be released.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Work within the window: schedule no more than 7 days out, and no later than 48 hours before your visit
- ✓ Set a reminder for 8:00 a.m. starting Oct. 25, 2025, since that is when time slots will be released for scheduling
- ✓ Register on the Michigan DOC Visitation Scheduling website hosted by ViaPath before you try to book
- ✓ Make sure your MDOC visiting application is approved first, because unapproved visitors cannot create or schedule a visit
- ✓ If you are aiming for a specific date, try to schedule as soon as you are allowed within the 7-day window
If there's a specific date you need, check at the front edge of the 7-day window for the best selection. After Oct. 25, that means logging in around 8:00 a.m. when slots are released. Wait until later in the day and popular times may already be gone. Don't forget the 48-hour minimum either. Wait too long and the system won't accept your reservation.
One more thing: outbreak and quarantine cancellations happen. If the facility or a housing unit goes on lockdown, scheduled visits get cancelled. Check for updates close to your visit day so you're not caught off guard.
For technical or billing issues on the ViaPath/GTL scheduling site, contact support at (855) 466-2832 or visitorsupport@gtl.net.
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