How to Get on an Inmate's Visiting List at FCI Lompoc
Before you can visit someone at FCI Lompoc, you need to be on their approved visiting list and cleared by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Here's how the approval process works and what you can do to avoid delays.
You can't just show up at FCI Lompoc and ask to visit. The incarcerated person has to put you on their visiting list first, and then the BOP has to clear you. If you're planning a first visit, understand this: the inmate starts the process on their end, but you still need approval before you'll be allowed into the visiting room.
Warning: Visitor paperwork can include a legal notice about false statements. Lying on a visitor form can carry serious penalties, including a fine up to $250,000 or up to five years in prison under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
BOP visiting guidance typically prioritizes close family members, then allows a limited number of other approved visitors (often called friends or associates). Some people are handled differently because of their role: attorneys, clergy, or other professional visitors. If you're not an immediate relative, you can still be considered, but expect more scrutiny and a clearer need to explain the relationship. Not sure if you qualify? Have your loved one ask staff what the institution will accept before you fill anything out.
- Ask the inmate to add you to their visiting list - This has to happen first. You cannot “apply” on your own without the inmate initiating it.
- Wait for the BOP to clear you - Being listed is not the same as being approved. You still must be cleared before you can visit.
- Confirm you’re approved before you travel - Make sure your loved one has been told you are cleared and on the approved list before you make plans to arrive at the institution.
- ✓ Your full legal name (match your ID)
- ✓ Current address and contact information
- ✓ Date of birth and any other identifying details requested
- ✓ Any information the institution requests to run its clearance checks
- ✓ Patience for processing time, since you must be cleared by the BOP before a visit can happen
Reminder: If a form asks for your history or identifying information, answer completely and honestly. The BOP’s visitor notice warns that false statements can lead to penalties up to a $250,000 fine or up to five years in prison (18 U.S.C. § 1001).
Clearance takes time. Build that delay into your plans, especially if you're traveling or arranging time off work. The simplest way to avoid a wasted trip: confirm you're approved before you head to the facility, even if you've already submitted everything.
While you're waiting, make sure you're planning to visit the right place. The BOP's online inmate locator can help you confirm where someone is housed (it covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present). One thing to keep in mind: the release date shown on the locator may not be current because sentences are being reviewed under the First Step Act. Keep checking back if timing matters for your plans.
Note: Federal institutions generally offer visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and sometimes on weekdays. The exact schedule can vary by facility and even by inmate, so confirm the current visiting hours before you travel.
There's a difference between general BOP policy and what you need for a smooth visit at FCI Lompoc. The BOP Central Office handles general questions about information on the BOP website (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534; (202) 307-3198), but day-to-day visiting procedures are handled locally. For anything operational or visit-specific, contact FCI Lompoc directly.
- ✓ How the institution wants visitor information submitted and whether any specific forms are required
- ✓ What identification is accepted at check-in (and whether expired IDs are turned away)
- ✓ Visiting days and hours for the unit where the inmate is housed
- ✓ How early you should arrive and what happens if you are late
- ✓ Dress code expectations and what personal items must be left in your car or a locker
- ✓ Any limits on the number of visitors allowed at one time, including rules for minors
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