Never Submit Original Documents When Copies Will Do

Bureaucratic systems are remarkably good at losing things. Files get misfiled, offices get reorganized, and paperwork disappears into stacks that no one touches for months. If you submit an original birth certificate, diploma, or property deed and it gets lost, replacing it can take weeks to months — and sometimes requires traveling to another city or country.

Always ask first: "Do you need the original, or will a certified copy work?" Most of the time, a notarized copy or a copy certified by the issuing authority is perfectly acceptable. Keep your originals in a safe place and let copies do the traveling. When you must submit originals, get a written receipt confirming exactly which documents were handed over, with dates.