The tables below show the average wait times for new applications and each stage of the examination or registration process.
Your wait time may be less than the average or longer than the average. There are many factors that impact how long it takes to examine a trademark filing. You may be able to shorten your wait time by following these tips for avoiding processing delays.
New applications appear in the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system documents tab before review by an examining attorney. Applications filed under Madrid Protocol with a trademark that has a design or stylization, such as stylized wording or an image, may take a little longer to appear in TSDR.
| Time between filing new Trademark application and... | Average | Target |
|---|---|---|
| First examining action in TSDR record | 8.0 months | 8.4 months |
| Trademark registering or application abandoning | 14.6 months | 14.4 months |
Note: Last updated May 2024
Difference between average wait times and current examination dates
You may have noticed that the average processing wait times do not match the current examination dates. The current examination dates show the most recent applications assigned to examining attorneys for review.
In general, average wait times are shorter than the current examination dates, because while we typically assign applications in the order they are received, some applications get placed higher in the queue.
- If the same applicant files more than one application within a three-month period, we place them all (up to 10 total applications) in the queue with the one that was filed first.
- Madrid applications are placed in the queue according to their effective filing date, which is the date their international application was filed.
Note: Last updated May 2024. **Indicates data as of April 2024.
See the Trademarks data at a glance for quarterly reports on processing wait times.
Contact us
Customers with a specific technical question about their TEAS filing can contact our TEAS team directly at TEAS@uspto.gov.
Customers with an urgent question about a filing or the status of their application or registration may contact the Trademark Assistance Center at 1-800-786-9199 (select option 1).