As you may recall, the JPO started this Program in April 2009 aiming to alleviate applicants’ financial burden under the global economic recession begun in 2008.
Under this program, applicants could defer the examination fee payment for approximately one year.
Considering the still continuing economic recession, the JPO has decided to decrease the examination official fee for approximately 25% for all applications and end this program.
(For more information on the reduced examination fee, please refer to our web site : click here )
The JPO has now announced that March 31, 2012 will be the last day to request examination deferring the examination official fee. Examinations requested on or after April 1, 2012 must pay the official fee at the time of requesting examination.
If the deadline for requesting examination comes on or before March 31, 2012, you can still choose whether to defer the examination official fee payment.
If the deadline for requesting examination comes on or after April 1, 2012, and you wish to defer the payment, you can request examination on or before March 31, 2012 rather than waiting for the last day of the deadline.
Please feel free to contact our Philadelphia office should you have any questions.
We look forward to receiving your instructions for requesting examination before March 31, 2012 should you or your client wish to defer the examination fee payment.
