Most office actions have a three-month response deadline, and applicants may request a one-time three-month extension for a fee. If granted, that gives the applicant up to six months from the office action issue date to respond.

The first step is to read the Office Action itself and identify every refusal and requirement. A response that addresses only one issue may still be incomplete if the USPTO raised multiple issues. The response must also be received by the applicable deadline.

After filing, a USPTO examining attorney reviews the application for compliance with federal trademark law. An examining attorney is a government lawyer who evaluates issues such as conflicts with earlier marks, distinctiveness, the identification of goods and services, specimens, disclaimers, ownership, and other filing requirements.

If the examining attorney identifies a problem, the USPTO may issue an Office Action, which is an official written notice explaining the refusal or requirement and the response deadline. If the application is approved, it generally proceeds to publication in the Official Gazette so third parties have an opportunity to oppose registration before the application moves to the next stage.

An Office Action is a formal written notice from the USPTO explaining a legal refusal, procedural requirement, or other issue that must be addressed before the application can continue.