When I was at IBM around 2010, they offered $250 for filing patent, then $750 when the patent office approved it, usually after 3-8 years -- if you were still at IBM.
Then after a few years, they swapped those numbers around, so that if you'd been waiting for your $750 bonus, you'd get $250.
Then after a few years, they swapped those numbers around, so that if you'd been waiting for your $750 bonus, you'd get $250.