4.2 Consequences for the applicant 

There is no obligation for applicants to pay any additional fee.

However, subject-matter that has not been searched will not be examined by the examining division (G 2/92). Hence, it cannot be prosecuted in an independent claim.

If the lack of unity persists also in examination after the claims have been amended, the excision of the non-searched subject-matter from the application may be necessary (see C‑III, 3.3 and F‑IV, 4.3).

Non-searched subject-matter can always be prosecuted in a divisional application.