Getting approved to visit someone at FCI Petersburg Med: step-by-step (forms, background check, ID, and entry logging)

The process starts on the inside. Your person has to request a Visitor Information form and mail it to you (and anyone else who wants to visit). Once you get it, fill it out and submit it to the Bureau of Prisons. You can't be approved until that form is completed and turned in.

The Visitor Information form collects details that can be reliably matched to you. You'll provide your relationship to the inmate, basic personal information like your address and phone number, and ID numbers - driver's license or state ID, passport, or alien registration number if applicable. Fill it out carefully. This is what gets entered into the BOP's visiting system for approval and later verification when you show up.

Once your form is submitted, BOP staff run background investigations to decide whether to approve you. At minimum, they perform an NCIC check to validate your information. This screening ties directly to what's recorded in the ACES/Web Visiting system, so accuracy matters. Wrong numbers or mismatched details can slow things down.

ID and Entry

• ✓ A legal photo ID for every visit (for example, a driver’s license/state ID, passport, or other legal ID)
• ✓ Be ready for staff to use your ID details to verify you against the visitor record stored in the Web Visiting (WebV) system

Approval isn't a one-time thing. Every time you visit, staff check your legal ID and compare it against what's in the system. If something doesn't match - a changed address, a typo in your ID number - staff may correct the discrepancy at check-in so the record reflects what you're presenting.

When you arrive, you're not just checking in - you're being logged. The ACES/Web Visiting system tracks everyone entering and exiting BOP facilities, including approved visitors. This helps staff account for who's onsite and supports safety and security. The system keeps your identifying details and ID numbers on file to verify you're the right person and create a record of visits.

1. Ask the inmate to request the Visitor Information form - they have to initiate the process by requesting the form and sending it to you.
2. Complete the form and submit it for approval - fill it out carefully, using the same information that appears on your legal ID.
3. Confirm local procedures on the BOP “Locations” page for FCI Petersburg Medium - for current visiting details and facility-specific questions, use the facility’s page and contact the institution directly.