front-desk

verb

To be denied by an INS agent without filing because the officer believes the application invalid at face value.

Meanings

verbfront-desk (third-person singular simple present front-desks, present participle front-desking, simple past and past participle front-desked)

present singular third person front-desks · participle present front-desking · participle past front-desked · past front-desked

  1. immigration lawTo be denied by an INS agent without filing because the officer believes the application invalid at face value.

    The Supreme Court pointed out a possible exception: "front-desking" may also produce the concrete effects necessary for a claim to be ripe.

    1998, Bernard D. Reams, American international law cases. Ser. 3, 1994, 6, page 3208
    3 more examples

    Under the Supreme Court's holding, the LULAC stay order survives only for the small group of cases in which aliens were front-desked by the INS in their application for legalization.

    1998, P. J. Patel, Patel's Immigration Law Digest

    Moreover, the Government has represented to Federal courts its willingness to accept applications of any alien who alleges he or she was "front-desked."

    2001, Labor Law Reporter Employment Practices

    Under the court's order, front-desked class members may have had the right to file and have the Immigration Service process their amnesty applications, and to be issued or reissued work authorization.

    2003, Immigration Legislation Handbook, page 8-211
Cite this entry
APA

front-desk. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/front-desk

MLA

“front-desk.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/front-desk. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “front-desk,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/front-desk.

Source: front-desk on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.