The following list of documents shows the normal processing times. In most cases, you should receive a letter or other contact from the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) within the listed time frames from our date of receipt. This list is not exhaustive.
The USPTO is waiving the requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(e)(1) and (2) for an original handwritten signature for certain correspondence with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline.
APPLICANTS | TYPICAL PROCESSING TIME | HOW TO: |
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Application for Registration - Examination 37 CFR § 11.7(b)(1) | *14 business days | Apply or reapply online using the Applicant Portal (preferred method) OR submit a complete PTO 158 form by mail. Please refer to the General Requirements Bulletin for applicable fees and documentation required. |
Application for Registration - Reciprocal Recognition 37 CFR § 11.6 (c) | 10 business days | Please submit a complete PTO 158A form, applicable fee, official original Certificate of Good Standing from the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA), showing that you are a registered before the Canadian Office and in good standing, official original transcript (the official transcript will be accepted from an applicant (original mailed to OED) or directly from the university or college - original mailed to OED or official electronic transcripts sent to OED@uspto.gov), official course descriptions (only if applying under Category B), and copy of a driver’s license, passport, or a valid government ID. |
Application for Registration - Reciprocal Recognition for Trademarks 37 CFR § 11.14(c) | 10 business days | Please submit a complete PTO 158T form, applicable fee, official original Certificate of Good Standing from the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA), showing that you are registered before the Canadian Office and in good standing, and copy of a driver’s license, passport, or a valid government ID. |
Application for Registration - Waiver of the Examination 37 CFR § 11.7(d) | 10 business days | Apply or reapply online using the Applicant Portal (preferred method) OR submit a complete PTO 158 form, Undertaking form, and $110.00 fee by mail. Documentation required: 37 CFR § 11.7(d)(1): Former patent examiners who by July 26, 2004, had not actively served four years in the patent examining corps and were serving in the corps at the time of their separation. (1) Submit a letter signed by you, indicating that at the time of separation you were not under a written or oral warning regarding your quality performance elements. (2) Submit copies of your last two (2) complete Fiscal Year Performance Rating (Form CD-516). Only provide the first page and the Performance Summary and Rating page. The Performance Summary and Rating page has the rating factors Outstanding, Commendable, Fully Successful, and etc. The page includes the signatures of the Director, Supervisory Patent Examiner (SPE) and Employee. (3) Submit an “official” transcript of your degree. We will accept: a) the official transcript will be accepted from an applicant (original mailed to OED) b) directly from the university or college (original mailed to OED or official electronic transcripts sent to OED@uspto.gov) c) copy of the official transcripts on file with the USPTO’s Office Human Resource (OHR). A USPTO’s OHR staff member must stamp the back of the copy with their date stamp. (4) Submit copies of your Certificate of Legal Competency and Negotiation Authority. 37 CFR § 11.7(d)(2): Former patent examiner who on July 26, 2004, had actively served four years in the patent examining corps, and were serving in the corps at the time of their separation. Follow instructions 1, 2, 3 37 CFR § 11.7(d)(3): Former Office employees who were not serving in the patent examining corps upon their separation from the Office. File petition demonstrating that you possess the necessary legal qualifications to render to patent applicants and others valuable service and assistance in the preparation and prosecution of their applications or other business before the Office. (See 37 CFR § 11.7(d)(3)) Follow instructions 1, 2, 3 |
Request for extension of time in which to schedule examination for registration to practice 37 CFR § 11.7(b)(4)(ii) or 11.9(e)(4)(ii) | 5 business days | If you applied online, you may submit this request through the Applicant Portal (preferred method). If you did not apply online, or you prefer to submit this request via mail, you must submit your name as used on your application and the $115 fee. An extension may be requested and granted an unlimited number of times. To be eligible to be granted an extension, the request must be received before the applicant’s current period of time to schedule the registration examination expires. |
Official Results of the Registration Examination (Commercial Test Administration Service) | 5 business days | Results will be mailed to the address of record. |
Request for Address Change | 3 business days | If you applied online, you may update your address and phone number through the Applicant Portal (preferred method). If you did not apply online, or you prefer to submit this request via email or mail, you may submit a signed or signed with your S-signature request and clearly indicate that the request is for an applicant who is taking the exam. You must also notify Prometric at the phone number and website address shown on the admission letter. |
Request for Copies of Documents (Certified) | 14 business days | If you applied online, you may submit this request and pay the applicable fee through the Applicant Portal (preferred method). If you did not apply online, or you prefer to submit this request via mail you must complete and mail the notarized Privacy Act Information Request form and $25.00 fee. |
Request for Copies of Documents (Non-Certified) | 10 business days | If you applied online, you may submit this request through the Applicant Portal (preferred method). If you did not apply online, or you prefer to submit this request via mail you must complete and mail the notarized Privacy Act Information Request form. |
Request for Name Change | 7 business days | If you applied online, you may submit this request through the Applicant Portal (preferred method). If you did not apply online, or you prefer to submit this request by mail or email, you may submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature AND legal documentation of the name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order. |
PRACTITIONERS | TYPICAL PROCESSING TIME | HOW TO: |
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Certificate of Good Standing | 7 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature and $40.00 fee by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Certificate of Good Standing (Suitable for Framing) | 10 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature and $50.00 fee by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Request for Address Change | 3 business days | Please submit OED Change of Address form and $70.00 fee by mail OR self-service online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method - free of charge). |
Request for Copies of Documents (Certified) | 14 business days | Please submit a request and $25.00 fee and a notarized Privacy Act Information request form by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Request for Copies of Documents (Non-Certified) | 10 business days | Please submit a request and a notarized Privacy Act Information request form by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Request for Name Change | 7 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature by mail or email and legal documentation of the name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Request for Password and/or User ID Recovery | 3 business days | Please use the User ID or Password Recovery tool at Practitioner Portal. |
Request for Refund | 7 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature by mail or email. |
Request for Reinstatement | 7 business days | Please submit PTO 107R form and $210.00 fee by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Status Change - Agent to Attorney | 10 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Status Change - Alien to Permanent Resident | 10 business days | Please submit PTO 107A form, a copy of your permanent resident card (front and back), Oath form and $210.00 fee by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Status Change - Attorney to Agent | 10 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature by mail or email OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Status Change - Naturalization/Citizenship | 10 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature and Certificate of Naturalization by mail or email OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Status Change - to Active (Former USPTO employees) | 10 business days | Please submit Reinstatement form, Undertaking form and $110.00 fee by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
Status Change - to Administrative Inactive (Current USPTO employees) | 10 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature including a complete OED Change of Address form by mail OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). Please note that US Government employees must list their agency address as their correspondence address. |
Status Change - to Voluntary Inactive (Resigned/Retired) | 10 business days | Please submit a request signed or signed with your S-signature by mail or email OR submit a request online using our Practitioner Portal (preferred method). |
* IMPORTANT: Please do not call OED regarding the status of an application unless applicant has not received a response four weeks after submitting an application or papers. However, an applicant who has not received a response from OED after four weeks should contact OED as soon as possible thereafter. An applicant should not expect to receive any extension to the ninety-day window for scheduling the examination on the basis that the applicant did not receive the admission letter, particularly in a situation where the applicant delayed reporting the lack of receipt after four weeks.
PAYMENTS: All payments of money required for the USPTO fees must be made in U.S. dollars and in the form of a cashier's or certified check, Treasury note, or United States Postal Service money order. If sent in any other form (including personal checks, credit cards or electronic funds transfer), the Office may delay or cancel the credit of the payment until collection is made. Checks and money orders must be made payable to the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We do not accept cash or payments by email. Payment of a fee by credit card must specify the amount to be charged to the credit card and such other information (complete account number and expiration date) as is necessary to process the charge. If the credit card information is provided on a form or document other than a form provided by the Office for the payment of fees by credit card, the Office will not be liable if the credit card number becomes public knowledge. There is a $50.00 service charge for processing each payment refused or charged back by a financial institution. 37 CFR § 1.21(m).
Credit Card Payment Form: PTO Form 2038
SUBMITTING REQUESTS: Email: OED@uspto.gov
Fax: (571) 273-0074
Mail: Mail Stop OED, United States Patent and Trademark Office,
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313
All time frames are estimated and may vary.
Acknowledgment of receipt by OED
Individuals who wish to receive an acknowledgment of the receipt of documents mailed to OED should include a self-addressed, postage-paid postcard to be used for this purpose. The postcard should be addressed to you and identify each type of paper filed. OED will stamp the receipt date on the postcard and place it in the outgoing mail to you.