# MPEP § 601.01(b): Provisional Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111(b) > Federal · Agency guidance · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(b) ## Section - **Citation:** MPEP § 601.01(b) - **Heading:** Provisional Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111(b) - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Agency guidance - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 0600 - Parts, Form, and Content of Application / MPEP § 601.01(b) ## Text A provisional application filed on or after December 18, 2013 will be given a filing date as of the date a specification, with or without claims, is received in the Office. For provisional applications filed prior to December 18, 2013, the application will be given a filing date in accordance with pre-PLT (AIA) 37 CFR 1.53(c) as of the date the written description and any necessary drawings are filed in the Office. The filing date requirements for a provisional application set forth in 37 CFR 1.53(c) substantially parallel the requirements for a nonprovisional application set forth in 37 CFR 1.53(b) . Amendments, other than those required to make the provisional application comply with applicable regulations, are not permitted after the filing date of the provisional application. When the specification or drawing are omitted, 37 CFR 1.53(e) requires that the applicant be notified and given a time period in which to submit the missing element to complete the filing. See MPEP § 601.01(f) and § 601.01(g) for treatment of applications filed without drawings, or filed without all figures of drawings, respectively. 37 CFR 1.53(c)(1) requires all provisional applications be filed with a cover sheet, which may be an application data sheet ( 37 CFR 1.76 ) or a cover letter identifying the application as a provisional application. The Office will treat an application as having been filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) , unless the application is clearly identified as a provisional application. A provisional application, which is identified as such, but which does not have a complete cover sheet as required by 37 CFR 1.51(c)(1) will be treated as a provisional application. However, the complete cover sheet and a surcharge will be required to be submitted at a later date in conformance with 37 CFR 1.53(g) .53(b) , unless the application is clearly identified as a provisional application. A provisional application, which is identified as such, but which does not have a complete cover sheet as required by 37 CFR 1.51(c)(1) will be treated as a provisional application. However, the complete cover sheet and a surcharge will be required to be submitted at a later date in conformance with 37 CFR 1.53(g) . When the provisional application does not have a complete cover sheet or the appropriate fee, the applicant will be notified pursuant to 37 CFR 1.53(g) and given a time period in which to provide the necessary fee or cover sheet and to pay the surcharge as set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(g) in order to avoid abandonment of the application. The time period will usually be set at two (2) months from the date of notification. This time period may be extended under 37 CFR 1.136(a) . If the filing fee is not timely paid, the Office may dispose of the provisional application. If no correspondence address has been provided, applicant has two months from the filing date to file the basic filing fee, cover sheet, and to pay the surcharge as set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(g) in order to avoid abandonment of the provisional application. Copies of a provisional application will be provided by the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.19(b) unless the provisional application has been disposed of (see 37 CFR 1.53(e) and (g) ). The basic filing fee must be paid in a provisional application on filing or within the time period set forth in 37 CFR 1.53(g) , and the provisional application must be entitled to a filing date under 37 CFR 1.53(c) , if any claim for benefits under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) based on that application is made in a subsequently filed nonprovisional application. See 37 CFR 1.78 . 37 CFR 1.53(e)(2) requires that any request for review of a refusal to accord an application a filing date be made by way of a petition accompanied by the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(f) (see MPEP § 506.02 ). ## Nearby sections - [MPEP § 601 Content of Provisional and Nonprovisional Applications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.md) - [MPEP § 601.01 Complete Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01.md) - [MPEP § 601.01(a) Nonprovisional Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(a).md) - [MPEP § 601.01(b) Provisional Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111(b)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(b).md) - [MPEP § 601.01(c) Conversion to or from a Provisional Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(c).md) - [MPEP § 601.01(d) Application Filed Without All Pages of Specification](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(d).md) - [MPEP § 601.01(e) Nonprovisional Application Filed Without at Least One Claim](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(e).md) - [MPEP § 601.01(f) Applications Filed Without Drawings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(f).md) - [MPEP § 601.01(g) Applications Filed Without All Figures of Drawings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(g).md) - [MPEP § 601.02 Power of Attorney](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.02.md) - [MPEP § 601.03 Correspondence Address](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.03.md) - [MPEP § 601.03(a) Change of Correspondence Address in Applications Filed On or After September 16, 2012](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.03(a).md) - [MPEP § 601.03(b) Change of Correspondence Address in Applications Filed Before September 16, 2012](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.03(b).md) - [MPEP § 601.04 National Stage Requirements of the United States as a Designated Office](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.04.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S601.01(b). Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.