When filing a conventional direct priority U.S. nonprovisional patent application claiming priority to a foreign application filed within 12 months (Paris Convention, not PCT), an English translation of the foreign priority document is not required.
37 CFR 1.55(g)(3) states:
- (3) An English language translation of a non-English language foreign application is not required except:
- (i) When the application is involved in an interference (see § 41.202 of this title) or derivation (see part 42 of this title) proceeding;
- (ii) When necessary to overcome the date of a reference relied upon by the examiner; or
- (iii) When specifically required by the examiner.
If an English translation of a non-English language foreign application is required, then it must be a certified translation filed together with a statement that the translation of the certified copy is accurate [37 CFR 1.55(g)(4)].
