How to Get on an Inmate's Visiting List at FCI Cumberland (what forms, checks, and who qualifies)
Getting approved to visit someone at FCI Cumberland starts with one thing: they have to put you on their visiting list. Then the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) runs a background check. Here's how the process works, what the BP‑A0629 form asks for, and who qualifies.
You can't just show up at FCI Cumberland because you're family or a friend. The inmate has to add you to their approved visiting list, and the BOP must clear you before you're allowed in. If you're planning a first visit, don't book travel until approval comes through - it's a separate step that takes time.
The process starts on their end: the inmate adds your name to their visiting list. Make sure you have their register number right and use it consistently on all paperwork. That number is how the BOP matches visitor requests to the correct person.
Step2 Bpa0629 Fields
- ✓ Legal name
- ✓ Date of birth
- ✓ Address (including ZIP code)
- ✓ Telephone number (including area code)
- ✓ Race and sex of visitor
- ✓ If you’re a U.S. citizen: Social Security number
- ✓ If you’re not a U.S. citizen: Alien Registration number and/or passport number
Your part is filling out the BP‑A0629 visitor questionnaire and release form. Send it to the institution address printed on the form - don't skip that detail.
By completing BP‑A0629, you're authorizing the BOP to run a background check. The form cites Title 18 U.S.C. § 4042 as the legal authority. The BOP uses this information to decide whether approving you could create management problems or other issues for the institution.
Warning: BP‑A0629 specifically warns that false statements can lead to criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (a fine up to $250,000 and/or up to five years in prison).
The BOP allows a range of relatives on visiting lists - not just immediate family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, in‑laws, and cousins can all qualify.
Friends and associates can be approved too, but there's a limit: no more than 10 total. If you're in this category, coordinate with the inmate early so you don't lose out on a spot.
Other categories may qualify depending on the situation: foreign officials, clergy and religious group members, civic group members, employers (current, former, or prospective), sponsors, parole advisors, and attorneys.
Sometimes there's no visiting list yet - common when someone first enters federal prison or transfers to a new facility. In these cases, immediate family may still be able to visit if they can be verified through the inmate's Pre‑Sentence Report (PSR).
Practical Tips
- ✓ Fill out BP‑A0629 completely and return it to the institution address shown on the form
- ✓ Use your full legal name and other identifying details (date of birth, address with ZIP, phone number) exactly as requested
- ✓ Keep a copy of what you submitted for your records
- ✓ Confirm with the inmate that they’ve added you to their visiting list
Once you're approved, confirm FCI Cumberland's current visiting procedures before you go. Rules and schedules change, so check directly with the institution for the latest information.
Here's the short version: the inmate adds you to their list, you fill out BP‑A0629 and mail it to the address on the form, and the BOP runs a background check under Title 18 U.S.C. § 4042. Answer honestly - false statements carry serious penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
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