Getting Approved to Visit at FCI Jesup (and Other BOP Facilities): What the Background Check Looks For

The Bureau of Prisons uses two connected systems to manage visitation. WebV (the Web Visiting System) stores approved visitor information so staff can monitor visits with family, friends, and the public. ACES/WebV handles entry and exit tracking - it logs who comes into and leaves BOP facilities, including approved visitors. Think of it this way: WebV holds the "who you are" details tied to an inmate's visiting list, while ACES/WebV helps staff account for who's physically on-site.

1. Have the inmate request the Visitor Information form - the process starts on the inside; the inmate has to request the form so it can be sent out to you.
2. Receive the form from the inmate - once they have it, they’ll send it to potential visitors (friends, family, and others).
3. Complete and submit the form for approval - you’ll fill it out and submit it to the BOP. Approval has to happen before you can visit.

The details you put on the Visitor Information form aren't just for a contact list. BOP staff use that information to run background investigations and decide whether you're suitable to visit. Once the background process wraps up, approved visitors get entered into WebV for operational use. WebV stores identifying and contact information that helps staff confirm you're the right person. This includes your name, relationship to the inmate, date of birth, sex, race and ethnicity, and ID-related numbers (driver's license or state ID, passport, or alien registration number). It also includes your mailing address and phone number, plus the date you were approved. The bottom line: the more accurate and consistent your information is across the form and your IDs, the smoother approval and check-in will go.

Even after approval, staff verify you each time you show up. Every visit requires a legal ID, and the information on that ID gets compared to what's in the system. That's why the identifiers stored in WebV matter: names, dates of birth, and ID numbers are exactly what gets checked at the door. If something doesn't match - a misspelled name, a different address, an ID number written down wrong - staff will flag it during check-in. Sometimes discrepancies can be corrected on the spot, but it's always better to avoid the mismatch in the first place. Otherwise, you risk losing time or your visit entirely.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Fill out every part of the Visitor Information form completely before you submit it for approval.
• ✓ Double-check spelling on your name and make sure it matches your legal ID.
• ✓ Verify every number you list (driver’s license/state ID, passport number, alien registration number if applicable) before you turn the form in.
• ✓ Use your full mailing address (legal residence) and a reliable phone number so your contact details match what gets stored in WebV.
• ✓ Be accurate about your relationship to the inmate; that relationship is part of the visitor record.
• ✓ Keep your information consistent: the details you submit are used to start the background investigation and later to match you at check-in.

Got questions about how FCI Jesup handles visitor approval timelines, submission details, or local procedures? Contact the facility directly. The BOP's central office isn't the right place for facility-specific questions - you'll get faster answers by going straight to the institution.

If your application seems stuck or you've been told you're not approved, contact FCI Jesup and ask what they need from you. Visitor approval is handled at the institution level, so the facility is the right place to check your status and find out how to move things forward.