Filing patent documents

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Patent Alert

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Filing patent documents

We strongly encourage customers to file via EFS-Web. This online business system is efficient and convenient.

EFS-Web filers:

  • EFS-Web for Registered eFilers - Enhanced filing of new patent applications, follow-on submissions, saved submissions, and more.
  • EFS-Web for Unregistered eFilers - Basic initial filing of new patent applications. Note: Unregistered eFilers are not permitted to file follow-on submissions/fees in EFS-Web. Unregistered eFilers are advised to pay fees online as part of the initial application submission or use an alternative filing method to pay fees, such as including a deposit account authorization with the application papers or mailing the payment using the Priority Mail Express® service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10.

Filing options:

New patent applications, new international design applications, documents and fees for national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. 371, and documents that are required to establish the filing date of an application (e.g., a missing drawing figure or page of the specification) may be filed (in addition to EFS-Web) by:

  • Priority Mail Express® from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10, or
  • Hand-delivery (37 CFR 1.6(c)) via the customer service window.

Other documents or fee payments may be filed (in addition to EFS-Web) by:

  • Facsimile transmission to the USPTO central facsimile at (571) 273-8300,
  • First-Class Mail with a certificate of mailing in accordance with 37 CFR 1.8,
  • Priority Mail Express® from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10, or
  • Hand-delivery (37 CFR 1.6(c)) via the customer service window.

Patent correspondence, including new patent applications, new international design applications, and documents or fee payments cannot be submitted via email.

Other forms of delivery, such as UPS and FedEx, may also be used. However, the benefits of 37 CFR 1.8 or 37 CFR 1.10 (best viewed in Internet Explorer) apply only to documents delivered to the office by the USPS.

If you have questions about filing via EFS-Web, please contact the Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) at ebc@uspto.gov or (866) 217-9197.