Getting Approved to Visit Someone at USP Big Sandy: Forms, Who Qualifies, and Visiting Right After a Transfer

At USP Big Sandy, visits only happen after the inmate places you on their approved visiting list and the BOP clears you. You can't just show up and ask to be let in - even if you're immediate family. The visiting list is the starting point, but BOP approval is what actually gets you through the door.

When someone arrives at a federal prison like USP Big Sandy, they build their visiting list from categories the BOP recognizes. This includes a wide range of relatives - grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws - plus certain "special" visitor types. Friends and associates can be listed too, but there's a cap: no more than 10. The policy also covers people visiting for professional reasons, like clergy, employers, attorneys, parole advisors, and certain officials or sponsors.

• ✓ Relatives (including grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws, and cousins)
• ✓ Up to 10 friends/associates
• ✓ Foreign officials
• ✓ Members of religious groups (including clergy)
• ✓ Members of civic groups
• ✓ Employers (former or prospective)
• ✓ Sponsors
• ✓ Parole advisors
• ✓ Attorneys

To get on an inmate's approved visiting list at USP Big Sandy, you'll need to complete the BP‑A0629 visitor questionnaire and release form and return it to the institution. This form gives the BOP the information they need to decide whether to approve you. If you're waiting to be added, this paperwork is usually what needs to happen first.

The form explains how the BOP handles missing information. You're not required to answer everything, but if you leave fields blank, your request will be suspended - no further consideration. Partial answers? Expect significant delays. Take the time to fill it out completely.

Transfers create a frustrating gap: your person arrives at USP Big Sandy, but their new visiting list may not be set up yet. The BOP has a provision for this. If the visiting list doesn't exist after arrival or transfer, immediate family members may be allowed to visit if they can be verified using information in the inmate's Pre‑Sentence Report. This narrow exception can help bridge the waiting period if you're trying to visit soon after a transfer.

Once you submit your BP‑A0629, the BOP uses it as part of their clearance process. Staff may run inquiries with law enforcement or other databases to determine whether you're suitable for visiting privileges. Approval comes down to two things: the inmate puts you on their list, and the BOP finishes clearing you. Missing or incomplete paperwork can pause or slow everything down.

1. Confirm you were actually added to the visiting list - The inmate has to place you on their approved visiting list, and you still need BOP clearance before you can visit.
2. Make sure the BP‑A0629 was completed and returned - If information is missing, processing can be suspended or delayed.
3. Follow up through the right channels - If you’re stuck, you can contact the BOP Central Office by phone at (202) 307-3198 or by mail at Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534.
4. Give written inquiries time - The BOP processes emails the same way as written correspondence, and a response may take about 20–30 working days.