Patent application requires official fees and agency fees. The official fee belongs to the Intellectual Property Office, and the agency fee belongs to the agency.
You don't have to pay the agency fee for your own application.
2. The agency has the obligation of confidentiality and can sign a confidentiality agreement with the agency.
3. After applying for a domestic patent, there are many ways to apply for a foreign patent at the same time, because the foreign patent application cycle is longer and there are more preparation materials. You can apply for a domestic application first, and then take the pct exam, so you have enough time to prepare for a foreign application.
Abroad, it depends on which country you want to deploy. Patents are regional, and they are valid only in that country.