After You Apply to Visit at CRC: When to Call and What to Ask About Your Approval Status
Waiting on a visiting application can feel like a black box. Here's how to follow up with CRC, what to ask to get a straight answer, and what to do once you're approved (or denied).
After submitting your visitor application, give CRC time to process it. Call 10–14 business days after you submit to check whether it was approved.
Note: If your loved one is in reception, they can’t receive visits during their first eight (8) days at CRC. If they arrived very recently, that timing can affect what “approved” means in practice right away.
Questions to Ask
- ✓ Has my visitor application been approved?
- ✓ Do you need any additional documentation from me (like a copy of my photo ID or signed forms)?
- ✓ Has my name been entered in the visiting system / added to the incarcerated person’s approved visiting list?
- ✓ Are there any DOTS or other restrictions affecting my application?
If staff says something is missing, ask them to be specific so you can fix it in one shot. CRC requires each visitor to complete the Visiting Application (DRC2096), sign the Declaration of Understanding (DRC2554) and the General Visiting Instructions (DRC2274), and provide a copy of valid photo ID before approval.
You can also ask whether the review turned up any restrictions in the DOTS Portal checks. Staff may be looking at screens like NAMS1, SCOPE, VNAMS, and VADDS to confirm past and current restrictions and visitation history - and that can affect whether your application gets approved.
- Confirm you’re approved - get a clear “approved” answer from CRC before you try to schedule.
- Register with GTL - once approved, you must register at www.gtlvisitme.com so you can make a visit reservation.
Approval isn't just paperwork - you also need to be on the incarcerated person's approved visiting list. Confirm that when you call. Then plan around CRC's visit sessions: reception visits run AM (8:30am–11:30am) and PM (12:00pm–3:15pm). You must be processed by 9:15am for the AM session or by 1:00pm for the PM session.
Note: Only approved visitors who are on the incarcerated person’s approved visiting list are allowed to send tablet repair payments.
If your application was denied, ask for the specific reason so you know what (if anything) can be corrected. One common issue: failing to answer a question or falsifying any answer on the visiting application results in automatic disapproval.
- Find out exactly what caused the denial - ask whether it was missing information, missing paperwork, or an issue with how questions were answered.
- Fix missing documents and resubmit - if you’re missing items, make sure the Visiting Application (DRC2096) is completed, the Declaration of Understanding (DRC2554) and General Visiting Instructions (DRC2274) are signed, and a copy of bona fide photo ID is provided.
- Be careful with corrections - if the denial was for falsified answers, that can be a hard stop under policy, so ask staff what next steps (if any) are available.
Ask whether the decision was tied to restrictions found during DOTS Portal checks (like NAMS1, SCOPE, VNAMS, or VADDS). If your loved one is still in reception, remember that CRC doesn't permit visits during the first 8 days - so ask whether timing played a role and whether you should follow up again after that window closes.
Find an Inmate at Correctional Reception Center
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
