[Andy and Tracy]

Hiya

Could you not send a stamped addressed envelope and ask your former employer to put the original in that? Explain to him the importance of it being the original? Print off the section from the visa application where they ask for original copies?

Alternatively, would your Agent accept a Statutory Declaration from you explaining that the reference is genuine, but that your Employer has refused to provide the original? If you want, I can provide the wording for a stat dec. We did that for one letter we provided (discharge from the Army) where we couldn't get the original. Don't worry - you can find a way around most things.
Good Luck
Tracy