305.02(e)    Effect of Certificate of Mailing

The filing date assigned to paper correspondence submitted with a certificate of mailing is the date of its deposit with the USPS when filed pursuant to the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §2.197. 37 C.F.R. §2.195(b)(2). If the certificate of mailing does not meet the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §2.197(a)(2), the filing date is the date the USPTO receives the submission. 37 C.F.R. §2.197(c).

See TMEP §§206–206.04 regarding changes in the effective filing date of an application.

The USPTO does not retain the envelopes in which material is received or record the date of the postmark.