How to Get on an Inmate's Visiting List at FCI Terminal Island

An inmate's approved visiting list can include relatives, plus several other visitor types the BOP recognizes. Beyond family, the list may include up to 10 friends or associates, along with foreign officials, religious group members (including clergy), civic group members, employers (current, former, or prospective), sponsors, parole advisors, and attorneys. If you're trying to get approved as a friend or associate, that 10-person cap matters - someone may need to be removed before you can be added.

At FCI Terminal Island, you can’t just show up and ask to visit. You must be placed on the inmate’s approved visiting list and cleared by the BOP before you’ll be allowed to visit. If you travel before that approval is in place, you’re risking a wasted trip.

Being on the list is just the starting point - clearance is what makes the visit happen. The BOP uses the inmate's visiting list to control who gets in, and that list has built-in limits and categories, like the cap of 10 friends or associates. Even if you're being added under a different category (clergy, employer, attorney), you still need to be on the approved list and cleared before your visit.

1. Confirm the inmate has added you - You can only visit after the inmate places you on their approved visiting list and you’re cleared by the BOP.
2. Double-check you’re being added in the right category - If you’re a friend/associate, remember there can be no more than 10 on the list.
3. Hold off on travel until clearance is done - Clearance has to happen before you’ll be allowed to visit.
4. Escalate policy questions if you’re stuck - For general questions about Bureau policies that affect visiting, contact the BOP Central Office by phone or mail.

There's one exception: right after admission or a transfer. When an inmate first enters prison or moves to a new facility, a visiting list might not exist yet. During that gap, immediate family members may be allowed to visit if staff can verify them using information in the inmate's Pre‑Sentence Report.

• ✓ If you visited during the “no list yet” window, confirm you’re added to the inmate’s formal approved visiting list afterward.
• ✓ Don’t assume an early visit equals ongoing approval - future visits still require being on the approved list and cleared by the BOP.
• ✓ If you’re a friend/associate, keep the “no more than 10” limit in mind as the inmate builds the official list.

Before starting the visiting-list process, confirm you have the inmate's committed name and BOP register number correct. The register number is the easiest way to verify you're looking at the right person, especially when names are common. Since you must be on the approved list and cleared before visiting, having accurate details from the start helps avoid delays.

1. Use the BOP inmate locator - Search for the person you want to visit and confirm they’re in BOP custody.
2. Verify the register number format - The BOP register number is shown in the format #####-###.
3. Save that information for planning - Keep the committed name and register number handy when coordinating the visiting-list approval and any visit plans.

If you have questions about Bureau policies affecting visits - or think there's a delay in how visiting rules are being applied - you can contact the Federal Bureau of Prisons Central Office. Phone: (202) 307-3198. Mailing address: Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534.