PCT Receiving Office Guidelines

Chapter VIII: Missing Parts or Erroneously Filed Elements or Parts in the International Application

Sheets Pertaining to the International Application Received without Prior Invitation

197. The receiving Office may receive other sheets pertaining to a purported international application submitted on a date later than the date on which papers were first received, even though there has been no invitation under Rule 20.5(a) or 20.5bis(a).

198. Time Limit. Where no invitation has been issued by the receiving Office under Rule 20.5(a) or 20.5bis(a), the time limit to submit sheets completing or correcting the international application is two months from the date on which one or more elements referred to in Article 11(1)(iii) were first received by the receiving Office (Rule 20.7(a)(ii)).