Petitions, requests, and related inquiries, may be filed with the Office of Petitions using any of the following delivery methods:
Electronic Submission:
- The Patent Electronic System is accessible through the Electronic Business Center (EBC);
- Selected types of the petitions handled by the Office of Petitions can also be filed as ePetitions.
Mailing:
- United States Postal Service (USPS) and addressed to:
Mail Stop Petitions
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
- Non-USPS delivery services and addressed to:
United States Patent and Trademark Office Customer Service Window
Mail Stop Petitions
Randolph Building
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Facsimile:
- Facsimile transmission for all petitions, requests, and related inquiries must be directed to the USPTO Central FAX Number of 571-273-8300 unless otherwise indicated below:
- Petitions to Withdraw from Issue and Petitions to Defer Issuance sent to the Central FAX Number should be marked "Special Processing Submission;"
- ONLY petitions where patent issuance is imminent, in particular, URGENT Petitions to Withdraw from Issue and Petitions to Defer Issuance may be facsimile transmitted directly to the Office of Petitions at 571-273-0025; or
Hand Carry:
- Submissions may be dropped off at the following address:
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Customer Service Window (located on the Ballenger Avenue side of the Randolph Building)
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to midnight, Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays).
- ONLY petitions where patent issuance is imminent, in particular, URGENT Petitions to Withdraw from Issue and Petitions to Defer Issuance, may be dropped off to the following address:
Office of Petitions (located on the 7th floor of the Madison West Building)
600 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
At the guard station in Madison West, the security guard should call the Office of Petitions at (571) 272-3282 for delivery assistance. Hand-carried papers will be accepted between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays).
Further information regarding mailing, hand carry procedures, and addresses for the USPTO can be found at:
- Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP), Section 513, Deposit as Express Mail with U.S. Postal Service;
- Mailing and hand carry addresses for the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
For the relevant patent laws and rules applicable to Where to File Petitions, Requests, and Related Inquiries with the Office of Petitions, please see:
- MPEP § 513, Deposit as Express Mail with U.S. Postal Service; and
- Official Gazette Notice (02 August 2005), Mailing and Hand Carry Addresses for Mail to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
For further assistance, please contact the Petitions Help Desk between 8:30 AM - 5 PM (EDT).