How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at FDC Houston
Getting approved to visit at FDC Houston starts with one thing: being added to the inmate's approved visiting list and clearing the Bureau of Prisons' screening process. Once you know what the form asks for and where to send it, the steps are straightforward.
You can't just show up - an inmate has to place you on their approved visiting list first. The Bureau of Prisons allows inmates to add relatives, plus up to 10 friends or associates. Other categories may apply depending on your relationship: clergy, members of religious groups, former or prospective employers, and attorneys. That "up to 10" limit matters most for friends and associates. If you're not a relative, confirm with your loved one that they have room to add you before starting the paperwork.
To be considered for visiting privileges at FDC Houston, you'll need to complete the BP‑A0629 visitor questionnaire and release form. Send it to the institution address your loved one provides. Think of this as an application - fill it out carefully and follow the return instructions exactly.
- ✓ Legal name - use your full legal name as it appears on your identification.
- ✓ Date of birth - double-check the numbers before you submit.
- ✓ Current address (including ZIP code) - list where you actually receive mail.
- ✓ Telephone number (including area code) - include a working number you can be reached at.
- ✓ Race and sex - complete the fields as requested on the form.
- ✓ U.S. citizenship status - answer yes/no as asked.
Small mistakes can slow things down. Use your correct legal name. Double-check your date of birth. Don't skip basics like the ZIP code or area code - the BP‑A0629 specifically asks for them. Before mailing, scan the form one more time for empty fields, then send it to the institution address your loved one gave you.
The form asks for personal details because the Bureau of Prisons has statutory authority to request background information on proposed visitors. That authority comes from Title 18 U.S.C. § 4042 - it's the legal basis for the screening that happens before someone gets cleared to visit.
Note: Background screening is a standard part of getting approved to visit. The BOP uses it to decide whether adding someone to a visiting list would create a management or safety problem for the institution.
Once you've completed the BP‑A0629, send it to the institution address your loved one provides. This step is required - if the form goes to the wrong place, the process stalls before it even starts.
- Complete the BP‑A0629 questionnaire and release - fill in the requested personal information and review it for accuracy.
- Return the form to the institution address provided by the inmate - this is the submission method the form directs you to use.
- Wait for the screening process - the BOP may request background information under its authority in Title 18 U.S.C. § 4042 as part of deciding whether you can be cleared.
- Get placed on the approved visiting list if cleared - once you’re approved, you can be recognized as an authorized visitor for that inmate.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Confirm your loved one has added you (or can add you) to their visiting list before you spend time on the paperwork.
- ✓ If you’re a friend/associate, ask whether they’re already at the limit of 10 friends/associates.
- ✓ Use your full legal name and an accurate date of birth.
- ✓ Write your current address with the ZIP code included.
- ✓ Include a phone number with the area code.
- ✓ Answer the U.S. citizenship question exactly as asked on the form.
- ✓ Mail the completed BP‑A0629 to the institution address your loved one provides.
Common delay triggers: Missing contact details (ZIP code or area code), name/date-of-birth errors, or sending the BP‑A0629 somewhere other than the institution address your loved one provided.
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