What is a ‘bypass’ continuation application?

A ‘bypass’ continuation application is a specific type of continuation application that is filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) to ‘bypass’ the national stage of an international application. As explained in MPEP 201.06(c):

“A continuation application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) may be filed as a continuation of an international application designating the United States without entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371. This is often referred to as a ‘bypass’ continuation application.”

This type of application allows applicants to pursue patent protection in the U.S. based on their international application without going through the formal national stage entry process. It can be advantageous in certain situations, such as when an applicant wants to modify claims or add new matter before U.S. examination.