How to Get on an Inmate's Approved Visiting List at FCI Aliceville

To visit someone at FCI Aliceville, you need to get approved first. This guide covers how the inmate starts the request, what paperwork you'll receive (and what to send back), what the BP-A0629 form actually asks for, and what happens while the Bureau of Prisons reviews your application.

You can't just show up and ask to visit. The Bureau of Prisons requires two things: the inmate must add you to their approved visiting list, and you must pass a BOP background check. Until both happen, you won't get in - even if you're family.

When someone arrives at a new federal prison, they build a visiting list of people they want to see. That list typically includes relatives - grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, cousins. If you fall into one of those categories, you're likely someone the inmate would add.

The process starts with the inmate. They request the BP-A0629 Visitor Information form, which the prison then mails to the people they want to add - friends, family, or other potential visitors.

Once you receive the BP-A0629, your job is simple: fill out the questionnaire and release form, then mail it back to the institution address on the form. That returned paperwork is what puts you into the approval process.

The BP-A0629 asks for more than basic contact info. It includes an authorization allowing the Warden to pull records of any criminal offenses you've been arrested for or convicted of. The BOP uses this as part of their background check to decide whether you're suitable to enter the facility.

Take your time and complete every section. When you're done, mail it to the institution address on the form. Leave sections blank or skip mailing it back, and you may not be considered for approval.

After you submit the BP-A0629, staff use your signed release to run background checks, including pulling criminal-record information. This is the clearance phase - your application is being reviewed before approval.

Once approved, your information goes into the BOP's Web Visiting System (WebV). This system stores your name, relationship to the inmate, date of birth, ID numbers (driver's license, passport, or alien registration number), address, phone number, and approval date.

The bottom line: approval must happen before you can visit. Until the inmate adds you to their list and the BOP clears you, assume you're not eligible yet.

Sometimes there's no visiting list yet - right after someone enters prison or following a transfer. In these cases, immediate family may still visit if the relationship can be verified through the inmate's Pre-Sentence Report. This exception can apply while the formal list is being set up.

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• ✓ Ask the inmate to request the BP-A0629 Visitor Information form so they can send it to you.
• ✓ Complete the BP-A0629 questionnaire and release form fully, and don’t guess - be accurate.
• ✓ Be truthful on every answer; false statements can trigger penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
• ✓ Return the completed form to the institution address listed on the BP-A0629.
• ✓ If you’re unsure you have the right mailing address or you want to check on processing time, contact the institution to confirm before you send anything.

If you're stuck, focus on two things: send the BP-A0629 to the exact address printed on the form, and call the facility if you need to confirm where to mail it or how long review takes. Once you're cleared, you can start planning your actual visit.