First 30 Days: How Visiting Works When Your Loved One Just Got to MCI Norfolk
The first month after someone arrives at MCI Norfolk can feel confusing. Visiting starts with a short-term
When your loved one is newly committed to MCI Norfolk, the facility allows a small amount of visiting to happen while the formal visitor pre-approval process is still pending. Specifically, they may have two visitors plus a reasonable number of visiting children during that initial period. This is meant to bridge the gap while paperwork is getting started, not replace the regular approval process - so it helps to treat those first visits as time-sensitive and start the approval steps immediately.
Note: The “two temporary visitors” allowance doesn’t last indefinitely. There’s a specific time limit, and temporary visitors can become inactive if they aren’t properly approved in time.
During this early window, your loved one also has a deadline on their side of the paperwork: they must submit an Inmate Visitor Listing within 30 days of admission to the Department. That 30-day list matters because visitors added after that - on any later visitor lists - aren’t allowed to visit until they’re approved. If you’re trying to visit quickly, it’s worth making sure you’re included on that initial listing so you don’t get pushed into “wait for approval first” status.
Keep it simple: Visiting starts with two tracks - your loved one has to add you to their pre-approved visiting list, and you have to complete the visitor application process. The 30-day Inmate Visitor Listing deadline is what sets that process in motion on their end.
The temporary visiting allowance has a hard cutoff. The two visitors who are allowed to visit while approval is pending will become inactive after 40 business days if they have not been properly approved through the application process. For families, that means you don’t want to “wait and see” for a month or two - if the application isn’t moving, your ability to visit can drop off until approval is completed.
If you want visits to continue past the initial temporary window, focus on getting converted from “temporary” to fully approved as soon as possible. At MCI Norfolk, that means two things have to happen: your loved one needs to add you to their pre-approved visiting list, and you need to mail a completed Visitor Application Form to the institution. After that, the Massachusetts DOC processes the application and both you and the inmate are notified of approval or denial. Because temporary visiting can become inactive after 40 business days, it’s smart to start these steps right away - ideally as soon as you learn where they’re housed.
- Get added to the visiting list - Your loved one must add you to their pre-approved visiting list, and they’re required to submit an Inmate Visitor Listing within 30 days of admission.
- Complete the Visitor Application Form - Fill it out fully and accurately.
- Mail the application to the institution - The Visitor Application Form must be mailed to MCI Norfolk.
- Wait for the decision notice - The Massachusetts DOC processes the application, and both you and the inmate will be notified whether it’s approved or denied.
- ✓ Keep a copy of the completed Visitor Application Form for your records
- ✓ Write down the date you mailed it and where you mailed it to
- ✓ Follow up with the institution to confirm the application is in process
- ✓ Don’t assume you’re approved until you and the inmate are notified of approval or denial
Time-sensitive: Temporary visitors can become inactive after 40 business days if they aren’t properly approved through the application process. The fastest way to protect your visits is to make sure your loved one adds you to their list and you mail your completed Visitor Application Form as early as possible.
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