how long does it take to get approved for visitation?

It could take up to a week or so to gain approval. The facility normally does not notify you when you are approved. It is your inmate's responsibility to let you know. There are a couple of different types of visitation for inmates:

• Video visitation is becoming more common and in some instances can be done from the comfort of your own home.  Video visitation works similar to the way you would use Facetime or Skype. 
• Non-contact or telephone visitation is when you are behind a glass partition, the inmate and you have a phone which you can talk to one another on, but the glass separates you.  
• Contact visitation is the most common and generally the most desired form of visiting an inmate.  You are able to sit, usually at a small table and be with the inmate for a short period of time.  Although contact can occur between you and the inmate, you are limited in how much touching can take place.  Usually, a brief hug hello and goodbye are all that are allowed, holding hands is usually restricted, the guards will reprimand you if you don't heed the rules.