Getting on the visitation list is a process that runs through the facility, and it almost always starts with a formal application rather than just showing up and hoping for the best.
Most jails and prisons require anyone who wants to visit an inmate to submit a visitation application to the facility. That application collects your personal information, and the facility runs a background check before approving or denying the request. The approval timeline varies widely. Some facilities process applications within a week. Others take several weeks depending on staffing and how many applications are in the queue.
The inmate typically has some role in the process as well, either by submitting your name to be added to their approved visitor list or by confirming the request from their end once you apply. The exact procedure depends on the facility, which is why calling ahead to ask about their specific visitation application process is the most efficient first step. Ask the facility directly what form needs to be completed, where to send it, and how long approval typically takes.
On the letter situation, a lack of reply does not necessarily mean the letter was not received. The early stretch of incarceration is disorienting and some people take time to respond even when they are glad something arrived. If you sent the letter through InmateAid and have not heard anything after a couple of weeks, reach out to aid@inmateaid.com and the team can confirm it went out and look into delivery if needed.
Keep writing in the meantime. Consistent contact from the outside matters even when responses are slow to come back.