Bringing a Child to Visit in VADOC: Rules, Paperwork, and What to Expect
Bringing a child to visit in VADOC takes extra planning. Once you understand the approval steps and know what paperwork to bring, the actual visit day goes much smoother.
You can't just show up with a child and add them at the door. Minors must be approved and registered before visiting, and they need to be connected to an adult's visitation application. Start with the online forms: adults submit the Adult Visitor Application and Background Investigation Authorization (851_F1), while minors need the Minor Visitor Application and Background Investigation Authorization (851_F6). The Central Visitation Unit reviews everything before the facility will allow a visit.
On visit day, a minor must be with the right adult. VADOC requires minors to be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or another adult who's already an approved visitor. If you're not the parent or guardian, get yourself approved first - then the child can come with you.
Contact visits for immediate-family minors: In VADOC, minors who are immediate family are only approved for contact visits, so plan your expectations around that visit type.
Bringing an immediate-family minor? Build this into your routine: the adult must present a completed notarized statement or a copy of a court order every single time the minor visits. Don't assume it's "on file" from last time - bring it with you.
Not sure if VADOC considers your child "immediate family"? Here's how they define it: parents, step-parents, grandparents, lawful spouse, biological/step/legally adopted children, and biological/half/step/legally adopted siblings. If there's a dispute about whether someone qualifies, the Corrections Operations Administrator handles appeals.
- Arrive one hour early - VADOC asks visitors to arrive at the facility one hour prior to the scheduled visit for security screening.
- Build in buffer time - traveling with kids can mean last-minute bathroom breaks and slower check-in, so aim to be parked and ready well before your visit time.
- ✓ Completed notarized statement or a copy of the court order (required every time you bring an immediate-family minor)
- ✓ At least one valid government-issued photo ID that matches the information on your visitation application
Plan around kid basics: No food or drinks are allowed inside, and there’s no access to vending machines. Keep the child with you - minors must be accompanied and supervised by the approved adult during the visit.
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