Source: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/operating-status
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 15:05:47+00:00

Document:
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, opens or closes according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) status for the Washington, D.C., area. In rare instances where our operating status diverges from OPM, we will announce it on our homepage and throughout our website, as well as through our social media channels.
Even when USPTO headquarters are closed, in most situations customers may still conduct business with us through our full-service online filing systems, as well as other alternative methods such as facsimile (fax) and delivery using U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail Express and First-Class certified mail. The USPTO grants deadline extensions and other relief in limited circumstances, so we encourage customers to monitor USPTO Systems Status and Availability information and take advantage of our online and alternative methods.
On this page you will find a list of major events that have affected customers and necessitated a change to normal business operations.
In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, January 14, 2019, the USPTO will consider Monday, January 14, 2019, to be a “Federal holiday within the District of Columbia” under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195, and 2.196. Any action or fee due on Monday, January 14, 2019, will be deemed as timely for the purposes of, e.g., 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051(d), 1058, 1059, 1062(b), 1063, 1064, 1126(d), and 1141k, or 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120, 133, and 151, if the action is taken, or the fee paid, on the next succeeding business day on which the USPTO is open, that is, Tuesday, January 15, 2019 (37 C.F.R. §§ 1.7(a) and 2.196), no later than 11:59 pm EST. A link to the full notice is forthcoming. This page will be updated as soon as it is available.
Friday, January 20, 2017, is a Federal holiday within the District of Columbia. See 5 U.S.C § 6103(c). Thus, any action or fee due on Friday, January 20, 2017, will be timely if the action is taken, or the fee paid, on Monday, January 23, 2017 (the next succeeding business day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday). See 35 U.S.C. § 21(b) and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.7 and 2.196.
While actions or fees due on January 20, 2017, will be timely if taken or paid on Monday, January 23, 2017, an actual filing date of January 20, 2017 is also available under existing procedures. Specifically, 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6(a)(4) and 2.195(a)(2) provide that patent- and trademark-related correspondence transmitted electronically to the USPTO will be considered filed in the USPTO on the date the USPTO received the electronic transmission. Thus, any patent- or trademark-related correspondence transmitted electronically to the USPTO on Friday, January 20, 2017, will be considered filed in the USPTO on the date the USPTO received the electronic transmission. Patent correspondence successfully received by the USPTO through the Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web) and filed in compliance with the EFS-Web Legal Framework will receive the date indicated on the Acknowledgement Receipt. See the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) § 502.05 and the USPTO website. Trademark filings properly filed through TEAS, TEASi, and ESSTA will receive the date indicated in the e-mail confirmation sent at the time of a successful filing. See the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) § 301 and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure (TBMP) § 110.09 regarding electronic filing.
In addition, 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6(a)(2) and 2.195(a)(4) provide that certain correspondence deposited in the Priority Mail Express® service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.10 or 2.198 will be considered filed on the date of deposit (as shown by the “date accepted” on the mailing label) with the USPS. Thus, any paper or fee properly deposited in the Priority Mail Express® service of the USPS on January 20, 2017, in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.10 or 2.198, will be considered filed on its respective date of deposit in the Priority Mail Express® service of the USPS (as shown by a “date accepted” of January 20, 2017, on the mailing label).
Due to the inclement weather in the Washington, D.C. area, the Patent Customer Service Window and Trademark Assistance Center walk-up window will be closing at noon January 22, 2016.
Patent applicants may file documents by: (1) EFS-Web; (2) Priority Mail Express® from the United States Postal Service in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10; (3) first class mail with a certificate of mailing in accordance with 37 CFR 1.8; or (4) facsimile transmission to the USPTO Central Facsimile (571) 273-8300 for documents that are permitted to be submitted by facsimile (see 37 CFR 1.6(d)). Documents that are required to establish the filing date of an application (e.g., a new patent application, or a missing drawing figure or page of specification) cannot be submitted by facsimile transmission, and certificate of mailing procedures under 37 CFR 1.8 do not apply to these documents.
Trademark applicants, registrants and parties to TTAB matters may file submissions by: (1) TEAS/TEASi and ESSTA; (2) Certificate of Mailing or Transmission procedures in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §2.197, as appropriate; (3) Priority Mail Express® from the United States Postal Service in accordance with §2.198, as appropriate. See Alternative Methods of Filing for more information regarding filing of submissions via facsimile and mail.
If the storm interrupts USPS service in specific areas of the country, the USPTO may designate those interruptions or emergencies pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 21(a). Applicants are encouraged not to rely on this possibility, but instead to file their documents using EFS-Web, TEAS/TEASi, or ESTTA, if possible.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy including in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Appalachian region beginning on Monday, October 29, 2012, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by the severe storms in Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia beginning on Friday, June 29, 2012, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Lee and flooding due to weather-related incidents in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont beginning on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a result of the power outages in California beginning on Thursday, September 8, 2011, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Hurricane Irene in North Carolina, the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast beginning on Saturday, August 27, 2011, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by the severe storms and tornadoes in Alabama beginning on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).

References: § 21
 § 6103
 § 21
 § 502
 § 301
 § 110
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