The Patents Ombuds Office assists applicants and attorneys throughout the application process, including initial filing, patent examination, and post examination. We assist applicants when normal processing has stalled, and we help get applications back on track. The Patents Ombuds Office is not intended to circumvent normal communication between applicants or their representatives and examiners, or supervisory patent examiners, or technology center directors.
We also provide assistance on the merits where there is an issue with case prosecution concerns, such as:
Application status information
Check the filing status of your patent application in Patent Center.
Contact us for assistance
- We can be reached by telephone at 571-272-5555 or 855-559-8589. Our hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET.
- If you complete the online form below, you will receive a phone call from a Patents Ombuds representative who will ask for additional details about your assistance request.
- Contact us via email at PatentsOmbudsOffice@uspto.gov
Contact us form
Additional Information
Find more answers to common patent questions in the Patent FAQs.
For a complete directory of USPTO Patents contact centers and how to reach them, visit Patents Contact Centers page.