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[alan2006]

Hi, all,

Need help on what information I should submit to USPTO OED. I have a Bachelor of Engineering (EE), Bachelor of Economics (minor degree), and a Master of Engineering (EE). All three are from China. I also have a Master of Science in ECE from US University. I have worked as an EE engineer for 14 years! I also hold 2 US patents in EE.

When I submitted my application for patent bar exam 3 weeks ago, I only listed Bachelor of Engineering on item 23 EDUCATION and submitted certificate/transcripts for that degree only. I thought that was enough to qualify me as a Category A applicant. I was wrong!

When I finally got the letter from USPTO, it showed "Incomplete" and asks me to have my Bachelor degree evaluated by a private 3rd party and file additional information. It is little unfair as my degrees had been accepted by US universities and LSAC before. But anyway, I just spent another few hundred dollars to have all 3 foreign degrees evaluated by a member of NACES.

I do have some time to respond to USPTO. Now, here are my questions:

1. Should I list all 4 degrees on item 23 EDUCATION? If yes, should I submit a new application? or amend the current application? What is the proper way to amend the application?
2. Should I submit my resume?
3. Should I submit an Employment Verification letter?
4. What else do I need to show my qualifications?

I really appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.

[plex]

Sorry Alan, but I don't think any of that is going to work, you need to be either, 1) a US citizen, or 2) physically working in the US in the patent industry to be able to take the patent bar.  Even if you had a qualifying BS rather than a MS from a US university, you would still not qualify with that alone.  You probably can become whatever the equivalent of a patent agent is in China quite easily though.

[alan2006]

Hi, Plex,

Thanks for your info. Sorry I forgot to mention that I am naturalized US citizen. I plan to change my career from Electrical Design Engineer to patent agent.

Alan

[vman11]

Plex, guy doesn't say he is now in China, that's your extrapolation.

1)If you are in China, yeah Plex is right, you're out of luck.

2)If you're in the US on a work visa, your job description needs to require filing and prosecuting, in which case refer to step 4.

3) If you are in the US and and a citizen or GC holder, refer to step 4.

4) Just call OED and ask to speak to an attorney on staff (571-273-0074), they are generally very helpful. Typically, they want to make sure that your degree is from a recognized institution (both US and foreign, specially foreign) and you've really taken the coursework you claim to have. So a quick phone call should help matters out.

[plex]

Ah, that clears things up.  It is just that most of those who post on here with foreign educations usually end up not being citizens, yet want to take the USPTO exam.  As for the OP's question, Alan is right, they want to check that you have the right sort of classes to qualify you for category A, and if not A, then category B.  A transcript from the US school you got an MSECE may help, and calling the USPTO to answer their questions may help.  They clearly want additional information because they cannot verify what was on the first transcript from the Chinese University.

The resume, employment, and other Chinese transcripts will probably not help.  The USPTO only cares about getting some sort of proof that you have taken the same type of courses required for a US degree.  The USPTO will not need proof of your employment history, or your employment in general, since you are a US citizen.