How does a U.S. national stage application differ from a regular national application?

How does a U.S. national stage application differ from a regular national application?

A U.S. national stage application is derived from an international application, while a regular national application is filed directly with the USPTO. The key differences lie in their origins and the legal provisions governing them.

As stated in MPEP 201.01:

A national application may be a U.S. national application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), or a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of an international application.

Regular national applications are filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), while national stage applications enter the U.S. national phase from an international PCT application under 35 U.S.C. 371. National stage applications must meet specific requirements for entering the national phase, such as time limits and submission of necessary documents.

For more information on national stage application, visit: national stage application.

For more information on patent filing, visit: patent filing.

For more information on USPTO, visit: USPTO.