How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
MoneyGram deposits to USP Big Sandy post quickly during the day: transfers between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST typically post within 2–4 hours. Deposits after 9:00 p.m. post at 7:00 a.m. the next morning. Many facilities also accept funds through online portals, phone payments, lobby kiosks, walk-in locations, or mailed payments—pick whatever fits your timeline and budget. Once money posts, it goes into the inmate's account for commissary and other authorized uses. Outstanding debts or fees may be deducted before they can spend it. If you mail funds, use a money order or cashier's check (not cash or personal checks), and have the inmate's full name and ID ready. Recent policy revisions also expanded commissary options and related access for messaging services.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Sending commissary money to someone at USP Big Sandy through MoneyGram? The details you enter matter more than you'd think. Most problems come from sending too early or formatting the register number wrong. Here's how to get it right the first time.
MoneyGram deposits sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST typically post within 2–4 hours. Transfers submitted after 9:00 p.m. EST post at 7:00 a.m. the following morning.
Many facilities offer multiple deposit channels such as online portals, phone payments, lobby kiosks, walk-in locations, or mailed funds. Before you pay, check the vendor’s instructions for required inmate identifiers and any fees.
Mail a money order or cashier’s check rather than cash or a personal check. Most facilities don’t accept cash or personal checks by mail, so use an approved method that securely posts to the inmate’s account.
Before you make the trip to USP Big Sandy, you need to know if you're actually eligible to get through the door. Federal prison visits depend on two things: the inmate adding you to their visiting list, and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) clearing you.
Getting on an inmate's visiting list at USP Big Sandy takes a few steps: confirm where they're housed, have the inmate add you to their approved list, wait for BOP clearance, and show up ready for screening and the facility's rules.
Want to send reading material to someone at USP Big Sandy? Here's the key rule: books and magazines must come directly from the publisher. Packages mailed from home are almost always rejected unless you've gotten prior written approval.
