Can I use the “Hold for Pickup” service when sending Priority Mail Express® to the USPTO?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

No, you should not use the “Hold for Pickup” service option when sending Priority Mail Express® to the USPTO. The reasons for this are:

• The USPTO does not have resources for picking up mail
• Mail sent using the “Hold for Pickup” service will not reach the Office

Always use the standard Priority Mail Express® Post Office to Addressee service when sending correspondence to the USPTO.

As stated in MPEP 511: “The Office does not have resources for picking up any mail. Therefore mail should NOT be sent using the ‘Hold for Pickup’ service option (whereby the mail is retained at the destination postal facility for retrieval by the addressee). Mail sent using the ‘Hold for pickup’ service will not reach the Office.”