Working for CSIS/CIA/NSA

[Asher]

Yeah, it'd be impossible as a dual citizen to do anything interesting.

At work we frequently get customers at places like the LLNL in the US, where they sometimes work on classified code. Only US citizens (no dual citizens) are allowed to work on debugging our products with their code, and that's only after an extensive security clearance.

I'm the closest thing our team has to an American, and it's not close enough. We need to send an OS developer from Austin, TX who used to work on compilers to California, and literally debug it with him over the phone.

[loinburger]

I don't think it's possible for a non-US citizen (including dual citizens) to get a secret clearance (barring outstanding circumstances, of which "being a dual citizen of Canada and the US" might qualify, hellifIknow), let alone a TS clearance, and pretty much anything that any of the intelligence agencies does is rated TS. I think that outstanding circumstances could justify a secret clearance, but they're pretty hard core with the TS screening process. (I dunno if the screening process for compartmental shizznit is more strict, but if so then you'd be even more fizzucked, since crypto gets its own compartment.)

[chequita guevara]

Re: Working for CSIS/CIA/NSA

Originally posted by Asher
Would you ever work for your government's spy agency?

I was offered a shot at an FBI job. I turned it down.

[OzzyKP]

CSIS? What does Canada need an intelligence service for?

Do you spend spies south to try and snoop out the latest new fashion trends before they hit the streets?

[Asher]

All they do now is apprehend/monitor random muslims as per US orders.

[notyoueither]

Someone has to keep track of the beaver?

But seriously... the cells in Britain that were planning on blowing up a football match or two were exposed to the Brits by CSIS and the RCMP because of their surveillance of a guy in Ottawa.

The guy who wanted to blow up LAX was also tipped to US authorities, wasn't he?

Then there's always Chinese 'trade missions' aka industrial espionage rings to keep track of.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Not nessecarily. Remember that Canada and the US have one of the most integrated Military and Intelligence infrustructures in the world. I would no assume you have no place there, though I am sure the more interesting and secure stuff is beyond your reach.

Your biggest hitch would be security level. Foreign nationals can join our military, but can't do anything that requires a security clearance.

Actually I worked with a Brit who was in the US Army at an NSA shop in the 1980s, so it was possible at least then. The U.S. shares intel at the highest levels with the Brits, Canadians and Australians so it might be possible.

[Sirotnikov]

I think you should see what tickles your fancy - intelligence work, i imagine, offers alot of challenges - but it obviously depends on your field of expertese. Obviously if you're a database programmer, you'll sit in an office programming databases...

But there is much work beyond that.

Israel's high tech industry is very much boosted by people who worked in the more technical parts of MI and computer scientists that come from intelligence are considered some of the best and most experienced - since the tasks are often 'impossible' and the time strain and other practical limitations are very big.

This means tiring work - but it is satisfying when you 'save lives' or help your country. And it also teaches you to work and think in unusual ways.

[atomant]

get experience, become consultant..then consult to govt.