1.1 Contact between the applicant and the search division 

Consultations with the search division can only take place after the application has entered the examination stage, except in the cases mentioned in B‑VIII, 3.2.2 and 4.2.2, and for issues related to the timing of the search report. The search division must not consent to earlier consultations (see also B‑XI, 8) and must instead tell applicants that any issues they wish to raise will be dealt with in examination. For the procedure at the examination stage, see C‑VII, 2.5.