How to Get on an Inmate's Approved Visiting List (FPC Bryan)
To visit someone at FPC Bryan, you need to be on their approved visiting list and cleared by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Here's how the process works, including what to expect if they were just admitted or transferred.
You can't just show up because you know someone. At FPC Bryan (and all BOP facilities), the inmate must add you to their approved visiting list, and then the BOP has to clear you. That clearance step is key. Even if the inmate says they added your name, wait until you're actually approved before making the trip.
Note: Being on the list isn't enough by itself. You also need to be cleared by the BOP before you can visit.
The BOP allows inmates to build a visiting list that includes family, friends, and other approved visitors. Family can include extended relatives like grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws, and cousins. Friends and associates can be added too, but there's a cap: no more than 10 friends/associates total. Certain other visitors may qualify based on the inmate's needs. This includes clergy and religious group members, civic group members, employers (past or potential), sponsors, parole advisors, attorneys, and foreign officials. If you fall into one of these categories, the inmate can still request to add you. The same rule applies: you must be placed on the list and cleared before visiting.
- ✓ Relatives (including grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws, cousins)
- ✓ Up to 10 friends/associates
- ✓ Foreign officials
- ✓ Members of religious groups (including clergy)
- ✓ Members of civic groups
- ✓ Employers (former or prospective)
- ✓ Sponsors
- ✓ Parole advisors
- ✓ Attorneys
Transfers and new admissions slow things down because a visiting list might not exist yet. In these cases, the BOP notes that immediate family members may be allowed to visit if their relationship can be verified using information in the inmate's Pre-Sentence Report. If your loved one was recently moved, start by confirming their current location using the BOP Inmate Locator. This prevents you from preparing for a visit at the wrong facility and helps you time your next steps while the facility processes the inmate.
Tip: If the inmate just arrived and no visiting list exists yet, immediate family may still be able to visit if the relationship can be verified through the Pre-Sentence Report.
- Confirm where the inmate is housed. Use the BOP Inmate Locator first, since the first step in planning a visit is knowing the inmate’s current location.
- Have the inmate add you to their visiting list. The inmate is the one who places you on the list, not the visitor.
- Wait for BOP clearance before planning the visit. You can only visit after you are on the list and cleared by the BOP.
The BOP Inmate Locator covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. It also shows when someone is no longer in BOP custody. If the locator displays "Released" or "Not in BOP Custody" with no facility listed, the person has left federal custody. Check this first, since you may need to adjust your plan if they've been moved elsewhere.
Warning: Don't assume approval is instant after the inmate adds your name. Visiting requires both being on the list and being cleared, so wait until clearance is confirmed before you travel.
- ✓ Confirm the inmate’s current location in the BOP system before you plan anything
- ✓ Know the inmate’s identifying details you will use to search (such as name and register number)
- ✓ Be ready for the BOP clearance requirement before you expect a visit to be allowed
- ✓ Pay attention to locator status changes like “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody”
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