How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at Manchester FCI
Being on the visitor roster at another facility doesn't get you in at Manchester FCI. Neither does traveling from out of state. Two things must happen: the inmate adds you to their approved visiting list, and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) clears you. Missing either one means you'll be turned away at the door. The process always starts with the inmate requesting you, followed by BOP completing the clearance.
When someone arrives at a new federal prison, they create a visiting list. This can include more than just parents, spouses, and children - grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins may all qualify.
Friends and associates can be added too, but there's a hard cap: no more than 10 friends or associates on the approved list at any time. If your person already has 10 friends listed, someone will need to come off before you can be added.
Bpa0629 Form Fields
- ✓ Legal name
- ✓ Date of birth
- ✓ Address (including ZIP code)
- ✓ Telephone number (including area code)
- ✓ Race and sex
- ✓ Citizenship information (U.S. citizen status, and Social Security number if yes; Alien Registration number and/or passport number if no)
- ✓ Relationship to the inmate
- ✓ Whether you desire to visit
- ✓ Conviction history (if applicable)
- ✓ Whether you are on probation, parole, or supervised release (if applicable)
- ✓ Driver’s license information
Warning: Fill out the BP‑A0629 completely and honestly. False statements can trigger serious criminal penalties, and missing or incorrect information will slow down your clearance.
Once the inmate requests you and your visitor information is submitted, the BOP may run a background check before approving you. The BP‑A0629 form explains that institution officials can contact law enforcement or crime information agencies to determine whether adding you would create management problems for the facility. This is one reason approvals can take time - your clearance may depend on responses from outside agencies, not just the unit team at the prison.
Legal penalty: The BP‑A0629 warns that making false statements can result in a fine of up to $250,000 and/or up to five years in prison under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
Sometimes there's a gap right after someone enters federal prison or transfers to a new facility, when a formal visiting list isn't set up yet. During this window, immediate family members may still be allowed to visit if the relationship can be verified using the inmate's Pre‑Sentence Report. If you're immediate family and the move was recent, that verification process is what the institution relies on while the list is being created.
Find an Inmate at Manchester FCI
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
