719 Non-Responsive Communications
An inquiry or a communication on a matter unrelated to the outstanding Office action should be treated as a "non-responsive communication," not as an incomplete response to an outstanding Office action. In addition, a request for an extension of time to respond under 37 C.F.R §2.62(a)(2) that is not accompanied by the applicable fee or that is filed using any form other than the TEAS Request for Extension of Time to File a Response form should also be treated as a "non-responsive communication" and given no effect.
If the applicant files a non-responsive communication while an Office action is outstanding, the examining attorney should send the applicant a letter (i.e., "Notice of Non-Responsive Amendment") acknowledging receipt of the communication, noting that the communication is non-responsive, and advising the applicant that, to avoid abandonment, a response to the outstanding Office action must be received within the time period for responding to the outstanding Office action. If no response to the Office action is received within the response period, the application must be abandoned for failure to respond.