How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at FDC Houston

You can't just show up at FDC Houston and expect to visit. The inmate has to place you on their approved visiting list first. This step exists because the facility uses the list to control who enters the institution. If your name isn't on it, you won't get in.

The approved visiting list isn't limited to immediate family. Relatives like grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins can all be included. Other approved visitors can include clergy and religious group members, employers (current, former, or prospective), and attorneys. The list also allows up to 10 friends or associates.

To request visiting privileges, you need to complete the BP-A0629 visitor questionnaire and release form. Once filled out, mail it to the institution address the inmate provides. Pay attention to that last part. The form is designed so the inmate gives you the correct mailing address, and you send the completed paperwork back using that address.

• ✓ Ask the inmate for the exact institution address to use before you mail anything.
• ✓ Fill out the BP-A0629 completely, then make a copy for your records.
• ✓ Return the completed form to the institution address provided by the inmate, following their instructions.

The BP-A0629 asks for basic identifying details. Gather your information before you start. You'll need to provide your legal name, date of birth, address (including ZIP code), and telephone number (including area code). The form also asks for your race, sex, and whether you are a U.S. citizen.

Submitting the BP-A0629 isn't just a formality. The form explains that the Bureau of Prisons can request background information on proposed visitors, citing Title 18 U.S.C. § 4042 as the legal authority. In plain terms, the institution checks whether adding you as a visitor would create a security or management concern. That background review is how the BOP decides whether to approve you.

After you return the BP-A0629 to the institution address the inmate provided, your request gets processed. The facility reviews your questionnaire and runs the background check to decide whether you can be cleared. The bottom line: you must be approved and added to the inmate's visiting list before you can actually visit at FDC Houston.

• ✓ Ask the inmate to confirm when your completed BP-A0629 was received.
• ✓ Follow up with the inmate to see when your name has been added to their approved visiting list.
• ✓ Keep a copy of what you submitted so you can answer questions if the institution needs clarification during processing.