At‑home or AFOI Visitor Center: which VADOC video visit option is right for your family?

VADOC offers video visitation through Assisting Families of Inmates (AFOI), and you have two choices. At-home Video Visitation lets you connect remotely from your own space. Video visitation at an AFOI Visitor Center means traveling to a center for your visit. The best option depends on your technology access, whether you qualify for at-home visits, and how easily your family can follow the rules for each setting.

At-home Video Visitation lets you connect from your own device. VADOC allows home computers, tablets, or Android smartphones. If you have one of these and a quiet, private spot to use it, at-home visits are the simplest way to see your loved one without the extra time and cost of travel.

AFOI Visitor Centers fill the gap when at-home video visitation doesn't work. This option is available for people without the necessary technology at home, and it may also work for family and friends who don't qualify for at-home visits. Since you'll be in a shared, on-site setting, plan to arrive early and keep kids settled and supervised during the appointment.

Timing Rules

• ✓ Log into the GTL system 15 minutes before your At-home Video Visitation start time.
• ✓ Your visit runs only for the exact scheduled time slot. Fees are not refunded for late logins or missed visits.

• ✓ Arrive at the AFOI Visitor Center at least 20 minutes before your scheduled visit time.
• ✓ Your visit starts and ends exactly as scheduled. Fees are not refunded for late arrivals or missed visits.

At AFOI Visitor Centers, portable electronics are a hard no. Cell phones, pagers, laptops, gaming systems, and other portable devices must be left outside the Visitor Center. Bring one in or use it inside, and your visit can be terminated.

For at-home video visits, the rule is strict in a different way. You can only use the device connecting you to the visit. No other technology can be present. Take a minute beforehand to clear the room of extra phones, tablets, TVs, or other devices so your visit doesn't get cut short.

1. Choose an AFOI Visitor Center if you don’t have the right tech at home - Visitor Centers exist for people who do not have the necessary technology at home, and they may also be an option if you do not qualify for At-home Video Visitation.
2. Choose At-home Video Visitation if you can connect from a supported device - If you have a home computer, a tablet, or an Android smartphone and a space where you can control your surroundings, at-home visits can be the easier routine.
3. Pick the option you can be reliably early for - At home, you must be logged into GTL 15 minutes before the start time. At a Visitor Center, you must arrive at least 20 minutes early. Either way, the visit uses exact time slots, so choose the setup that makes “on time” most realistic for your family.