What happens if I submit a non-English InventionTitle to the USPTO for an international application?

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.

If you submit a non-English InventionTitle to the USPTO for an international application, where the USPTO is acting as the Receiving Office (RO/US), your application will be transferred to the International Bureau. According to MPEP 2413.01(i):

“If non-English language is presented to RO/US for a ‘Sequence Listing XML,’ then RO/US will transfer the international application to the International Bureau, under PCT Rule 19.4.”

This transfer occurs because the USPTO requires the InventionTitle and other language-dependent free text elements to be in English when it acts as the Receiving Office for international applications.