The applicant should identify the kind of protection sought for the invention, and then determine which kind of patent best procures that protection. Once the desired application is properly assembled, it should be filed with the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office), either by mail or electronically. Depending on the application, there may be secondary forms and one or more fees that must be filed with it. The forms may include a Declaration, in which the applicant promises that all of the inventors are listed. The fees are in part dependent on the status of the applicant, e.g., gross income, affiliation with a university, etc.