Getting Approved to Visit Someone (How visiting lists and visitor categories work for families of inmates at FMC Fort Worth)
Before you can visit someone at FMC Fort Worth, you need to be cleared through the Bureau of Prisons and added to the inmate's approved visiting list. Here's how the list works, who qualifies, and what to confirm before making travel plans.
You can't just show up at FMC Fort Worth and expect to get in. You have to be on the inmate's approved visiting list first. Once you understand how the list works - and which visitor categories the Bureau of Prisons recognizes - you'll know what to ask your loved one, whether you're likely to be approved, and what to confirm before you travel.
The approved visiting list is the gatekeeper. Your loved one has to add you, and the facility has to clear you before you can visit. The screening process checks the information the inmate provides - your name, relationship, and identifying details. If anything doesn't match, approval can stall or you'll be turned away at the door.
Tip: Confirm with the inmate that they've added you and that approval has gone through before you travel. It can save you a long drive for a visit that can't happen yet.
Family members start from the strongest position for approval. BOP policy specifically lists relatives who qualify, including grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws, and cousins. Make sure your loved one uses the correct relationship label when adding you - small details matter during the screening process.
- ✓ Friends/associates (no more than 10)
- ✓ Foreign officials
- ✓ Members of religious groups, including clergy
- ✓ Members of civic groups
- ✓ Employers (former or prospective)
- ✓ Sponsors
- ✓ Parole advisors
- ✓ Attorneys
Note: Friends/associates are capped in policy - an inmate can have no more than 10 in that category.
Once you're approved, visiting time isn't unlimited. By law, inmates are entitled to at least four hours of visiting per month. Many facilities offer more, but schedules vary. Don't assume your first visit will be long or easy to book.
Reminder: Visiting schedules and time slots vary by institution. Confirm current hours and procedures with FMC Fort Worth before you go.
- Ask the inmate to add you to the approved visiting list - visits can’t happen until you’re on that list and cleared.
- Confirm the relationship category they’re using for you - family relationships like grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws, and cousins are specifically recognized.
- Give accurate identifying details for screening - mismatches between what’s submitted and your information can slow approval.
- If you’re a friend/associate, check the cap before you wait - that category is limited (no more than 10), so it helps to know whether there’s room.
- Get your visit-day documents ready early - once you’re approved, you’ll still need to show up with the right identification and any required documentation for entry.
Before you travel: Check FMC Fort Worth's current visiting rules - schedule, ID requirements, and dress code - so you don't lose a visit over something avoidable.
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