Usa Visa - Marriage/birth Cert Originals?

[nikster]

Hello,

I am in the middle of a visa application for my wife. I am a greencard holder so the whole process is pretty long - but the good news is its coming to an end now, we have waited our 5 years.

Anyway, I sent off the package with documents, and now they sent a reply that they want a certified copy or original of her birth certificate.

I was at the US Embassy in BKK to get the certified copy, and they told me, I don't need it. Because the birth cert is an old piece of paper all in Thai that's falling apart, very weird shape, yellow-ish paper. The US Embassy won't certify a copy for a Thai document, or so they told me.

So ... do I need to send the original? I am tempted to do it it seems my only option at this point. I already sent a copy as well as a translation, but that was apparently not good enough.

They also want a certified copy of the marriage document. Again, the US embassy does not do that.

Should I just send them the originals? Anyone have experience?