How difficult is international travel when you are part of or formerly a part of an intelligence community? [closed]
I understand that this is a very broad question, but I'm asking it mainly out of curiosity.
Suppose that one works for the CIA, or the NSA, or some other American intelligence agency; I expect that getting a tourist visa for, say, Russia, would be more difficult than usual, obviously, and that the same would hold in the opposite direction as well.
However, there are obviously lots of people employed by such groups (like IT staff) that are not directly employed in espionage pro forma. How much more difficult does international travel become in such cases?
international-travel tourist-visas
asked Apr 24 '17 at 21:55
John Doe
141
closed as too broad by Honorary World Citizen, chx, Olielo, Gayot Fow, David Richerby Apr 25 '17 at 7:59
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
I understand that this is a very broad question, but I'm asking it mainly out of curiosity.
Suppose that one works for the CIA, or the NSA, or some other American intelligence agency; I expect that getting a tourist visa for, say, Russia, would be more difficult than usual, obviously, and that the same would hold in the opposite direction as well.
However, there are obviously lots of people employed by such groups (like IT staff) that are not directly employed in espionage pro forma. How much more difficult does international travel become in such cases?
international-travel tourist-visas
asked Apr 24 '17 at 21:55
John Doe
141
closed as too broad by Honorary World Citizen, chx, Olielo, Gayot Fow, David Richerby Apr 25 '17 at 7:59
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
2
A member of the intelligence community should have the skills to sneak in into any country without revealing his background :)
– JonathanReez♦
Apr 24 '17 at 22:02
So are you basically asking if someone who was backroom IT staff (not an agent) for an intelligence agency would find it more difficult to get a tourist visa to visit rival countries?
– user568458
Apr 24 '17 at 22:58
You will never know. If you get a visa refusal, no one will ever tell you why. My father lead the civilian agency/laboratory responsible for every civilian chemical factory not to blow up. He knows, without a doubt, most about explosives in Hungary. Is the intense scrutiny I get every time I am about to board a plane to or from Israel (I was strip searched. Twice.) due to they just being what they are or is it the (unique) family name? No one will ever tell you.
– chx
Apr 24 '17 at 23:05
1
@JonathanReez not to mention the cover story and the, uh, documents to back it up.
– phoog
Apr 25 '17 at 2:20
Agencies may limit their (ex) employees from travelling to unfriendly countries. You never know what intel the other side has.
– ugoren
Apr 25 '17 at 18:36
add a comment |
I understand that this is a very broad question, but I'm asking it mainly out of curiosity.
Suppose that one works for the CIA, or the NSA, or some other American intelligence agency; I expect that getting a tourist visa for, say, Russia, would be more difficult than usual, obviously, and that the same would hold in the opposite direction as well.
However, there are obviously lots of people employed by such groups (like IT staff) that are not directly employed in espionage pro forma. How much more difficult does international travel become in such cases?
international-travel tourist-visas
asked Apr 24 '17 at 21:55
John Doe
141
I understand that this is a very broad question, but I'm asking it mainly out of curiosity.
Suppose that one works for the CIA, or the NSA, or some other American intelligence agency; I expect that getting a tourist visa for, say, Russia, would be more difficult than usual, obviously, and that the same would hold in the opposite direction as well.
However, there are obviously lots of people employed by such groups (like IT staff) that are not directly employed in espionage pro forma. How much more difficult does international travel become in such cases?
international-travel tourist-visas
international-travel tourist-visas
asked Apr 24 '17 at 21:55
John Doe
141
asked Apr 24 '17 at 21:55
John Doe
141
asked Apr 24 '17 at 21:55
John Doe
141
asked Apr 24 '17 at 21:55
John Doe
141
asked Apr 24 '17 at 21:55
John Doe
141
141
closed as too broad by Honorary World Citizen, chx, Olielo, Gayot Fow, David Richerby Apr 25 '17 at 7:59
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as too broad by Honorary World Citizen, chx, Olielo, Gayot Fow, David Richerby Apr 25 '17 at 7:59
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
2
A member of the intelligence community should have the skills to sneak in into any country without revealing his background :)
– JonathanReez♦
Apr 24 '17 at 22:02
So are you basically asking if someone who was backroom IT staff (not an agent) for an intelligence agency would find it more difficult to get a tourist visa to visit rival countries?
– user568458
Apr 24 '17 at 22:58
You will never know. If you get a visa refusal, no one will ever tell you why. My father lead the civilian agency/laboratory responsible for every civilian chemical factory not to blow up. He knows, without a doubt, most about explosives in Hungary. Is the intense scrutiny I get every time I am about to board a plane to or from Israel (I was strip searched. Twice.) due to they just being what they are or is it the (unique) family name? No one will ever tell you.
– chx
Apr 24 '17 at 23:05
1
@JonathanReez not to mention the cover story and the, uh, documents to back it up.
– phoog
Apr 25 '17 at 2:20
Agencies may limit their (ex) employees from travelling to unfriendly countries. You never know what intel the other side has.
– ugoren
Apr 25 '17 at 18:36
add a comment |
2
A member of the intelligence community should have the skills to sneak in into any country without revealing his background :)
– JonathanReez♦
Apr 24 '17 at 22:02
So are you basically asking if someone who was backroom IT staff (not an agent) for an intelligence agency would find it more difficult to get a tourist visa to visit rival countries?
– user568458
Apr 24 '17 at 22:58
You will never know. If you get a visa refusal, no one will ever tell you why. My father lead the civilian agency/laboratory responsible for every civilian chemical factory not to blow up. He knows, without a doubt, most about explosives in Hungary. Is the intense scrutiny I get every time I am about to board a plane to or from Israel (I was strip searched. Twice.) due to they just being what they are or is it the (unique) family name? No one will ever tell you.
– chx
Apr 24 '17 at 23:05
1
@JonathanReez not to mention the cover story and the, uh, documents to back it up.
– phoog
Apr 25 '17 at 2:20
Agencies may limit their (ex) employees from travelling to unfriendly countries. You never know what intel the other side has.
– ugoren
Apr 25 '17 at 18:36
2
2
A member of the intelligence community should have the skills to sneak in into any country without revealing his background :)
– JonathanReez♦
Apr 24 '17 at 22:02
A member of the intelligence community should have the skills to sneak in into any country without revealing his background :)
– JonathanReez♦
Apr 24 '17 at 22:02
So are you basically asking if someone who was backroom IT staff (not an agent) for an intelligence agency would find it more difficult to get a tourist visa to visit rival countries?
– user568458
Apr 24 '17 at 22:58
So are you basically asking if someone who was backroom IT staff (not an agent) for an intelligence agency would find it more difficult to get a tourist visa to visit rival countries?
– user568458
Apr 24 '17 at 22:58
You will never know. If you get a visa refusal, no one will ever tell you why. My father lead the civilian agency/laboratory responsible for every civilian chemical factory not to blow up. He knows, without a doubt, most about explosives in Hungary. Is the intense scrutiny I get every time I am about to board a plane to or from Israel (I was strip searched. Twice.) due to they just being what they are or is it the (unique) family name? No one will ever tell you.
– chx
Apr 24 '17 at 23:05
You will never know. If you get a visa refusal, no one will ever tell you why. My father lead the civilian agency/laboratory responsible for every civilian chemical factory not to blow up. He knows, without a doubt, most about explosives in Hungary. Is the intense scrutiny I get every time I am about to board a plane to or from Israel (I was strip searched. Twice.) due to they just being what they are or is it the (unique) family name? No one will ever tell you.
– chx
Apr 24 '17 at 23:05
1
1
@JonathanReez not to mention the cover story and the, uh, documents to back it up.
– phoog
Apr 25 '17 at 2:20
@JonathanReez not to mention the cover story and the, uh, documents to back it up.
– phoog
Apr 25 '17 at 2:20
Agencies may limit their (ex) employees from travelling to unfriendly countries. You never know what intel the other side has.
– ugoren
Apr 25 '17 at 18:36
Agencies may limit their (ex) employees from travelling to unfriendly countries. You never know what intel the other side has.
– ugoren
Apr 25 '17 at 18:36
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Actually, not that many countries require a visa for US citizens and even among the most restrictive/unfriendly countries, only a handful would have the resources to track and identify random low-level intelligence staff so I would not expect a huge impact.
On the other hand, some countries (and especially the US) place restrictions on foreign travel by clearance holders. So if you want to keep your job and your career, you need to follow specific procedures and cannot go abroad just like that.
answered Apr 24 '17 at 22:43
Relaxed
76k10148282
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Actually, not that many countries require a visa for US citizens and even among the most restrictive/unfriendly countries, only a handful would have the resources to track and identify random low-level intelligence staff so I would not expect a huge impact.
On the other hand, some countries (and especially the US) place restrictions on foreign travel by clearance holders. So if you want to keep your job and your career, you need to follow specific procedures and cannot go abroad just like that.
answered Apr 24 '17 at 22:43
Relaxed
76k10148282
add a comment |
Actually, not that many countries require a visa for US citizens and even among the most restrictive/unfriendly countries, only a handful would have the resources to track and identify random low-level intelligence staff so I would not expect a huge impact.
On the other hand, some countries (and especially the US) place restrictions on foreign travel by clearance holders. So if you want to keep your job and your career, you need to follow specific procedures and cannot go abroad just like that.
answered Apr 24 '17 at 22:43
Relaxed
76k10148282
add a comment |
Actually, not that many countries require a visa for US citizens and even among the most restrictive/unfriendly countries, only a handful would have the resources to track and identify random low-level intelligence staff so I would not expect a huge impact.
On the other hand, some countries (and especially the US) place restrictions on foreign travel by clearance holders. So if you want to keep your job and your career, you need to follow specific procedures and cannot go abroad just like that.
answered Apr 24 '17 at 22:43
Relaxed
76k10148282
Actually, not that many countries require a visa for US citizens and even among the most restrictive/unfriendly countries, only a handful would have the resources to track and identify random low-level intelligence staff so I would not expect a huge impact.
On the other hand, some countries (and especially the US) place restrictions on foreign travel by clearance holders. So if you want to keep your job and your career, you need to follow specific procedures and cannot go abroad just like that.
answered Apr 24 '17 at 22:43
Relaxed
76k10148282
answered Apr 24 '17 at 22:43
Relaxed
76k10148282
answered Apr 24 '17 at 22:43
Relaxed
76k10148282
answered Apr 24 '17 at 22:43
Relaxed
76k10148282
76k10148282
add a comment |
add a comment |
2
A member of the intelligence community should have the skills to sneak in into any country without revealing his background :)
– JonathanReez♦
Apr 24 '17 at 22:02
So are you basically asking if someone who was backroom IT staff (not an agent) for an intelligence agency would find it more difficult to get a tourist visa to visit rival countries?
– user568458
Apr 24 '17 at 22:58
You will never know. If you get a visa refusal, no one will ever tell you why. My father lead the civilian agency/laboratory responsible for every civilian chemical factory not to blow up. He knows, without a doubt, most about explosives in Hungary. Is the intense scrutiny I get every time I am about to board a plane to or from Israel (I was strip searched. Twice.) due to they just being what they are or is it the (unique) family name? No one will ever tell you.
– chx
Apr 24 '17 at 23:05
1
@JonathanReez not to mention the cover story and the, uh, documents to back it up.
– phoog
Apr 25 '17 at 2:20
Agencies may limit their (ex) employees from travelling to unfriendly countries. You never know what intel the other side has.
– ugoren
Apr 25 '17 at 18:36