Patent ID: 8541287

Claim:
A processing method for a wafer having a device area where a plurality of devices are formed and an annular peripheral marginal area surrounding said device area, said plurality of devices being respectively formed in a plurality of regions partitioned by a plurality of division lines formed on a front side of said wafer, said processing method comprising: a modified layer forming step of holding said wafer on a chuck table in the condition where a back side of said wafer is exposed and applying a laser beam having a transmission wavelength to said wafer toward the back side of said wafer along said division lines in the condition where the focal point of said laser beam is set inside said wafer, thereby forming a modified layer as a division start point inside said wafer along each division line, wherein during said modified layer forming step, said laser beam is only applied to said wafer is said device area and is not applied to said wafer in said annular peripheral marginal area; and a transporting step of unloading said wafer from said chuck table and transporting said wafer to a position where a step to be next performed; wherein said modified layer is not formed in said annular peripheral marginal area of said wafer in said modified layer forming step to thereby form an annular reinforcing portion in said annular peripheral marginal area.