If so, combining the stimulus with choice (D), the story would be that a petition for an extension of time was filed in the parent, but the extension fee was to be covered by the child.

According to this paragraph in MPEP:
“Applicants are cautioned that an extension of time will not be effected in the prior application by filing a petition for an extension of time, extension fee, or fee authorization, in the continuing application,”
the extension for parent is not effected. Therefore the parent and the child are both abandoned. So choice (C) seems to be the correct one.

But choice D does allow you to get an automatic extension for the parent and allows copendency and hence is the right answer.

1. the petition for an extension of time is fairly informal under 1.136, one only need the fee and petition. So if that is taken care of in the parent application
2. the child (in this case the continuation) will be filed prior to abandonment of the parent and thats it – you are good to go.

1. Automatic extensions are available. That is what 1.136 (a) that you have quoted is. You can request that even after the period for reply (SSP) ends before the statutory period ends, unlike the 1.136 (b) where you have to request it before the period of reply ends.
The reason for that is the fees – are almost double (in the unintentional vs unavoidable or for cause scenarios)
2. Given the above, one can file a petition for an extension for the parent and since the parent application is NOT abandoned at this point
3. File a continuation.
HENCE THE ANSWER IS “D”

Even after the appeal goes abandoned (see 1205.01 – last 3 paragraphs). one can file a petition to revive and along with it file a RCE or a continuation or an appeal brief .

So to summarize.
1. appeal brief – gets automatic extension 5 mos
2. continuing application cannot have notice for extension of time for parent. The parent must have explicit extension.
3. filing a continuation or a rce after filing for an extension of time on an appeal is actually the technique other people have refered to above where in they can actually buy time to continue prosecution

C is correct, imo.

I feel answer is C

= there is NO automatic extension and one need to file petition as given below:
1205
In the event that the appellant finds that he or she is unable to file a brief within the time period allotted by the *>rule<, he or she may file a petition, with fee, to the Technology Center (TC), requesting additional time under 37 CFR 1.136(a). Additional time in excess of 5 months will not be granted unless extraordinary circumstances are involved under 37 CFR 1.136(b). The time extended is added to the calendar day of the original period, as opposed to being added to the day it would have been due when said last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday.

In addition, as given under previous post of Matt-
Ok, I found it in 710.02(e):

“Applicants are cautioned that an extension of time will not be effected in the prior application by filing a petition for an extension of time, extension fee, or fee authorization, in the continuing application. This is because the petition for an extension of time (or constructive petition under 37 CFR 1.136(a)(3)) must be directed toward and filed in the application to which it pertains in accordance with 37 CFR 1.4 and 1.5.”

Reading in conjunction, one can draw that one need to file seperate applicaiton/petition for extension and can not be direct to deduct fees in the cover letter of another applicatoin = therefore answer C is correct in my assessment – any thoughts – if no independent extension application in Appeal then appeal abandons and no copendency with other application

Could A be the right answer? It is unclear whether the application automatically become abandoned even if no appeal brief is filed.
And the question did give a specific authorization to pay the 5 month extension fee?