Do I need to apply to visit? Clearing up VADOC's conflicting visitation application rules

For in-person visits at a VADOC facility, yes, you need to complete the VADOC visitation application online. Think of the application as the approval step before you can schedule an in-person visit.

Bringing a child? Plan for extra paperwork. VADOC requires all visitation applications for minors to be attached to an adult's application, so you'll submit them together.

This is where the confusion usually starts. VADOC offers two video visitation options: At-home Video Visitation and Video Visitation from an AFOI Visitor Center. For at-home Internet video visits specifically, no visitation application is required. You simply register and schedule through the Visitation Scheduler.

The easiest way to cut through the conflicting wording? Start by identifying your visit type. In-person visits at a VADOC facility require the online visitation application. At-home Internet video visits do not. If you're unsure which category applies, figure that out first. The "apply" step depends entirely on that choice.

• ✓ Confirm your visit mode: in-person, at-home Internet video visit, or video visit from an AFOI Visitor Center
• ✓ If it is in-person, plan to complete the VADOC visitation application before you try to book a date
• ✓ If it is an at-home Internet video visit, use the Visitation Scheduler to register or schedule (no application required)
• ✓ After you are approved to visit an inmate in a VADOC facility, use the Visitation Scheduler to schedule your visit

If you need the online VADOC visitation application, set aside enough uninterrupted time to finish it. VADOC estimates 20 to 30 minutes, and you cannot save a draft. You'll need to complete and submit it in one sitting.

1. Gather the inmate information: Have the inmate’s first and/or last name, or the inmate ID number.
2. Have your picture ID ready: Use a form of photo identification (for example, a driver’s license or passport).
3. Have your Social Security Number available: You will need it to complete the application.

Once your visitation application is approved, there's still a scheduling step. VADOC requires you to book visits through the Visitation Scheduler after you've been approved to visit an inmate.

1. Register as a new user: In the Visitation Scheduler, use the “Register Today” option.
2. Watch for the pending message: After you submit registration, you should receive a notification that your request is “waiting for approval.”
3. Check your email for the decision: VADOC says you will receive an email within three working days letting you know whether your registration has been approved.