QUOTE(churipu @ Jun 27 2008, 09:43 PM)

To get a US passport there is no way around sending the original naturalization certificate...btw if it gets lost or something they (usually the postal service) can be held responsible and will refund the cost to get a new one from USCIS, I asked about this when I applied for my passport. In a nutshell, if they lose it, you go ahead and pay to get a new one and they refund you. To the OP...I am not quite sure why you waited 2 years before worrying about this???
I just checked into that as well as it is the next bridge for us to cross, yes, they will only accept the original naturalization certificate as well as the birth certificate, but if it is lost, how will you be able to prove who is liable?
When I was in the clerk of courts office saw she was certified by the state department, had a perfect copy of my birth certificate that she could look over, but still no, she wanted the original. SS let's you bring in copies as long as they can see the originals, and the DMV can give a plastic card very similar to the green card for seven bucks. Guy checks your credentials, has you stand in front of a camera, pushes a button, and five seconds later a plastic ID pops out, that's seven dollars please.
So why can't the USCIS and Department of State be like that?
Assume you got your naturalization back okay, churipu, hmm that is one out of 3. Yeah, waiting two years is a bit too long.