---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 C.F.R. § 1.412"
title: "37"
number: "1.412"
heading: "The United States Receiving Office."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/37/1.412"
---

# §1.412. The United States Receiving Office.

- (a) The United States Patent and Trademark Office is a Receiving Office only for applicants who are residents or nationals of the United States of America.
- (b) The Patent and Trademark Office, when acting as a Receiving Office, will be identified by the full title “United States Receiving Office” or by the abbreviation “RO/US.”
- (c) **The major functions of the Receiving Office include—**
  - (1) According of international filing dates to international applications meeting the requirements of PCT Art. 11(1), and PCT [Rule 20](/cfr/37/20.md);
  - (2) **Assuring that international applications meet the standards for format and content of PCT Art.** 14(1), PCT Rule [9](/cfr/37/9.md), [26](/cfr/37/26.md), [29.1](/cfr/37/29.1.md), [37](/cfr/37/37.md), [38](/cfr/37/38.md), [91](/cfr/37/91.md), and portions of PCT [Rules 3 through 11](/cfr/37/3..11.md);
  - (3) Collecting and, when required, transmitting fees due for processing international applications (PCT Rule [14](/cfr/37/14.md), [15](/cfr/37/15.md), [16](/cfr/37/16.md));
  - (4) Transmitting the record and search copies to the International Bureau and International Searching Authority, respectively (PCT Rules [22](/cfr/37/22.md) and [23](/cfr/37/23.md)); and
  - (5) **Determining compliance with applicable requirements of part 5 of this chapter.**
  - (6) Reviewing and, unless prescriptions concerning national security prevent the application from being so transmitted (PCT [Rule 19.4](/cfr/37/19.4.md)), transmitting the international application to the International Bureau for processing in its capacity as a Receiving Office:
    - (i) Where the United States Receiving Office is not the competent Receiving Office under PCT Rule [19.1](/cfr/37/19.1.md) or [19.2](/cfr/37/19.2.md) and [§ 1.421(a)](/cfr/37/1.421.md?p=a); or
    - (ii) Where the international application is not in English but is in a language accepted under PCT [Rule 12.1(a)](/cfr/37/12.1.md?p=a) by the International Bureau as a Receiving Office; or
    - (iii) Where there is agreement and authorization in accordance with PCT [Rule 19.4(a)(iii)](/cfr/37/19.4.md?p=a-iii).

## Notes

### Amendments

[43 FR 20466, May 11, 1978, as amended at 60 FR 21439, May 2, 1995; 63 FR 29617, June 1, 1998]

### Authority

Authority: Secs. 1.401 to 1.499 also issued under 35 U.S.C. 41 and 351 through 376.

### Source

Source: 43 FR 20466, May 11, 1978, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), unless otherwise noted.

### Source

Source: 24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[43 FR 20466, May 11, 1978, as amended at 60 FR 21439, May 2, 1995; 63 FR 29617, June 1, 1998]