How to Get Approved for the Visiting List: What You Need to Know
Getting approved to visit in the federal system comes down to two things: the inmate has to add you to their visiting list, and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has to clear you. Here's how the process works so you can avoid delays.
You can't just show up to a federal prison and visit. The inmate has to place you on their approved visiting list, and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has to clear you. If you're not on that list, you won't be allowed in, no matter how far you traveled.
Before you start planning dates and travel, read the Visiting Regulations for the specific facility where the inmate is housed. The BOP posts visiting hours and policies by location, and those local rules go into more detail than the general guidelines. If the inmate has been moved recently, confirm where they're currently housed first, then review that facility's regulations.
For most people, the process starts with paperwork. You'll need to complete and return the BP-A0629 visitor questionnaire to the institution address. If you don't provide all the requested information, your request will be suspended with no further consideration. Partial submissions can also slow things down significantly. Treat this form like an application that needs to be complete the first time you send it.
Warning: The BP-A0629 form states that false statements can lead to criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, including fines up to $250,000 or imprisonment up to five years (or both).
- ✓ Return the completed BP-A0629 to the institution address listed on the form.
- ✓ Fill out every section you are asked to complete so your request is not suspended or delayed.
- ✓ Double-check that everything you provide is accurate before you sign.
- ✓ Read the facility-specific Visiting Regulations for the location you plan to visit so you know the local rules and procedures.
Depending on what you're applying to do, you may need to authorize a criminal history check as part of the clearance process. Some BOP access forms (for example, BP-A0660) include language authorizing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to obtain your criminal history background information. That check has to be completed before you're allowed to enter or serve at any Bureau facility.
Note: If you refuse a required authorization, the form warns that you may be denied entry or denied volunteer or contract status.
After you apply, give the process time. Remember the two requirements: the inmate has to place you on their visiting list, and the BOP has to clear you. While you wait, keep reviewing the visiting hours and local Visiting Regulations for that facility. Those policies control what happens once you're approved.
There's a limited exception for inmates who just arrived at a prison or were recently transferred and don't have a visiting list yet. In that situation, immediate family members may be allowed to visit before the list exists, as long as they can be verified through information in the inmate's Pre-Sentence Report. Verification is key here. If you're immediate family, ask the inmate what the facility is using to confirm eligibility.
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