Why Your Visitor Application Can Take Up to Eight Weeks (and What You Can Do)

For Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) visits, anyone 18 or older must pass a background check before approval. That's the main reason for the longer wait - your application isn't just sitting in a queue. It's being actively reviewed and verified before you're added to the approved visitor list.

Bringing a minor? Plan ahead for extra paperwork. You'll need documents proving guardianship - birth certificates, court papers, or adoption records work - so staff can verify you're authorized to bring that child. One thing to note: once a child turns 18, they can no longer visit as a minor. They'll need to submit their own visitor application to keep visiting.

ODOC says visitor approval can take up to eight weeks. Not every application takes that long, but plan as if yours might - especially if you're trying to time a first visit, coordinate family travel, or arrange childcare. Submit your application early and double-check everything to avoid delays.

Here's something that catches people off guard: you won't get a direct "you're approved" message from DOC. The inmate is the one who tells you when your background check clears. They'll also let you know the scheduled date and time for your visit.

Address Followup

• ✓ Mail paper visitation applications to: Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Attn: Visitation Unit, P.O. Box 11400, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0400
• ✓ Address the form to the Visitation Unit (not to the inmate) so it doesn’t get misrouted or delayed.

1. Track your send date - write down the day you mailed the application to the ODOC Visitation Unit so you can count the eight-week window accurately.
2. Check in with your loved one - since the inmate is the one who gets word that the process is complete and receives the scheduled visit date/time, ask them to let you know as soon as they hear anything.
3. Follow up if you’re near the eight-week mark - if you’re approaching the full processing window, confirm that your application was addressed to “Attn: Visitation Unit” at the correct P.O. Box and ask for guidance on next steps through DOC channels.

If you're checking the OK Offender Lookup while you wait, keep its limitations in mind. The information shown is abbreviated - it won't give you exact details about offenses, sentences, or time remaining. DOC recommends contacting them directly for documentation. The lookup system also recently switched to a new data source, and DOC has acknowledged they're still working through some issues from that transition.