How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at MCI‑Framingham

You can't just show up at MCI‑Framingham and ask to visit. Your loved one has to add you to their pre-approved visiting list first. It's their responsibility to tell the institution who they want approved as a visitor by submitting each person's name. If you're not on that list, expect to be turned away, even if you traveled hours to get there. Start by confirming with your loved one that they've submitted your name. Once that's done, move on to the visitor application paperwork.

Next up: the Visitor Application Form. Massachusetts DOC makes this form available on mass.gov as part of its "visiting an inmate in a Massachusetts prison" guidance. You'll fill it out and send it in for processing. For MCI‑Framingham specifically, there's also a facility-specific Visiting Procedures PDF (English). I'd recommend pulling that document before you submit anything. It lays out MCI‑Framingham's visiting procedures in one place and can save you from missing a detail.

Fill Form Key Fields

• ✓ Your full legal name (spelled exactly the way it appears on your ID)
• ✓ Your date of birth
• ✓ Your relationship to the person you want to visit
• ✓ The inmate’s identifying information (for example, commitment number if the form asks for it)
• ✓ Every required signature and date on the application
• ✓ A final check that nothing is left blank (incomplete forms can slow down processing)

Once you've completed the Visitor Application Form, mail it to MCI‑Framingham directly. The mailing address is included with the application materials. You can also find it on the third page of the application or on the Prison Locations page. Double-check that you're using the correct address before sending. Mailing it to the wrong institution is an easy way to lose time.

After the institution receives your Visitor Application Form, it goes through processing. Both you and the inmate will be notified whether you're approved or denied. While you wait, keep your travel plans flexible. If you need to check on the status or confirm current visiting hours, contact the institution directly. MCI‑Framingham's Visiting Procedures PDF is also a solid reference point as your visit date gets closer.

1. Confirm your loved one added you to the pre-approved list. If your name was never submitted, the application alone will not fix that.
2. Re-check the MCI‑Framingham Visiting Procedures PDF. Use it to make sure you are following the institution’s process.
3. Review your application for missing or mismatched information. Go line by line and correct blanks, typos, or anything that does not match your ID.
4. Verify you mailed it to the right place. The DOC guidance says the form must be mailed to the specific institution, and the address is listed on the application (and on the Prison Locations page).
5. Call the institution to ask about status and next steps. This is the fastest way to confirm whether your form was received and whether a decision has been made.