I love my country; just don't make me live there.
April 9, 2013 3:12 PM Subscribe
I am a US citizen living and working overseas until mid-2015. I want to figure out how to make it permanent. Difficulty: I am a federal employee in a sensitive position, and so I can't just pull chocks and do the same work for somebody else. How do I solve this in the next two years?
The necessary anonymity makes this tough, I know, but I'd appreciate insight and ideas, especially from those who might've done it before. Spouse, children, pets in tow. Dog's breakfast of skills and experience, much of which I must necessarily be vague about beyond the broad strokes*. I've considered international nonprofit and similar organizations, but an
association with the US national security complex seems to be a bit of a poison pill. I'm cool with doing the job search thing and trying to find similar sorts of work in different contexts, but I'm really more interested in avenues I might not otherwise consider. Throwaway email: treasonousscum@gmail.com.
* Seriously, not because it's very interesting, merely because it's a pretty specialized skillset and could make clear my employer to someone with a little knowledge. No thanks.
The necessary anonymity makes this tough, I know, but I'd appreciate insight and ideas, especially from those who might've done it before. Spouse, children, pets in tow. Dog's breakfast of skills and experience, much of which I must necessarily be vague about beyond the broad strokes*. I've considered international nonprofit and similar organizations, but an
association with the US national security complex seems to be a bit of a poison pill. I'm cool with doing the job search thing and trying to find similar sorts of work in different contexts, but I'm really more interested in avenues I might not otherwise consider. Throwaway email: treasonousscum@gmail.com.
* Seriously, not because it's very interesting, merely because it's a pretty specialized skillset and could make clear my employer to someone with a little knowledge. No thanks.
1) Many countries have investor or entrepreneur immigration programmes.
2) Many foreign companies / government agencies may well want access to your capabilities and networks (even if your knowledge is off-limits). They will be able to help with immigration.
posted by nickrussell at 3:30 PM on April 9, 2013
2) Many foreign companies / government agencies may well want access to your capabilities and networks (even if your knowledge is off-limits). They will be able to help with immigration.
posted by nickrussell at 3:30 PM on April 9, 2013
If you're a skilled worker, that may make it easier to obtain a work visa or other documentation or status that makes hiring you for a position easier for a prospective employer. For example, Canada has an assessment process that can aid your application.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:57 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:57 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
The immigration websites of countries you are interested in will tell you fairly quickly what avenues are open to you for residency and/or eventual citizenship.
So start with a short list of where you want to go, and then drill down into how you might get residency there, and then once you know that, you'll know whether it's money, skills or employment you should be focusing on.
As it is this is a pretty broad question, so broad answers are about all we can offer.
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:55 PM on April 9, 2013
So start with a short list of where you want to go, and then drill down into how you might get residency there, and then once you know that, you'll know whether it's money, skills or employment you should be focusing on.
As it is this is a pretty broad question, so broad answers are about all we can offer.
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:55 PM on April 9, 2013
I'm a US citizen living abroad with no plans to return. I can't tell from your question if your skills could be sold on a consultant basis, but if so, I'd suggest you look into that in addition to looking for a job. Ideally, you'd also be able to turn your skills into a product, such as a high-level newsletter or reference site that people pay to access, so you'd have a steady passive income in addition to (or replacing) the consulting income.
I'm a consultant to big business and governments, including the US government, but unlike an employee, I get to decide which projects I take on and which I reject. Because I can do most or all of the work remotely, I can live wherever there's a decent internet connection. No one has cared where I am; they're all used to doing work with remote people. I'm now phasing out the consulting and focusing more on information products, and I highly recommend it because you get to be creative, work to your own high standards, and be free from meetings and clients' emergencies.
Financially, the best approach is probably to find a place that has a decent standard of living but low housing costs and affordable medical care. I'm able to save more money than I did in the US and take more risks with my business (and get a higher income as a result), while enjoying a higher standard of living and way more interesting side trips.
posted by ceiba at 5:11 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm a consultant to big business and governments, including the US government, but unlike an employee, I get to decide which projects I take on and which I reject. Because I can do most or all of the work remotely, I can live wherever there's a decent internet connection. No one has cared where I am; they're all used to doing work with remote people. I'm now phasing out the consulting and focusing more on information products, and I highly recommend it because you get to be creative, work to your own high standards, and be free from meetings and clients' emergencies.
Financially, the best approach is probably to find a place that has a decent standard of living but low housing costs and affordable medical care. I'm able to save more money than I did in the US and take more risks with my business (and get a higher income as a result), while enjoying a higher standard of living and way more interesting side trips.
posted by ceiba at 5:11 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've considered international nonprofit and similar organizations, but an
association with the US national security complex seems to be a bit of a poison pill.
I would expect that not to be the case, actually. Large companies often need people with experience working with the US government, even foreign companies.
posted by empath at 9:33 PM on April 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
association with the US national security complex seems to be a bit of a poison pill.
I would expect that not to be the case, actually. Large companies often need people with experience working with the US government, even foreign companies.
posted by empath at 9:33 PM on April 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
If you want to move to a developing country, btw, their immigration standards are a lot more lax.
posted by empath at 9:35 PM on April 9, 2013
posted by empath at 9:35 PM on April 9, 2013
I've considered international nonprofit and similar organizations, but an association with the US national security complex seems to be a bit of a poison pill.
Keep looking. The dilettantes who insist on lifelong ideological purity don't last long once the realists show the donors what can be done by people who aren't perfect.
posted by Etrigan at 10:33 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Keep looking. The dilettantes who insist on lifelong ideological purity don't last long once the realists show the donors what can be done by people who aren't perfect.
posted by Etrigan at 10:33 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is there a way to shop your skills to the government of the country you'd like to stay in?
posted by gjc at 3:14 AM on April 10, 2013
posted by gjc at 3:14 AM on April 10, 2013
Depending on the nature of your current career, there may be consulting firms in your jurisdiction or similar jurisdictions that might value your expertise. I am a U.S. citizen currently working in China, and I know of several ex-U.S. government officials from (broadly speaking) the national security world who now work for firms doing consulting work to multinationals. You obviously need to be sensitive to your security clearance requirements, but the path from government to private sector, even in your area, is well-trod.
posted by hawkeye at 3:51 AM on April 10, 2013
posted by hawkeye at 3:51 AM on April 10, 2013
Keep looking for and posting for other Federal Jobs abroad. My parents did this for 10 years. Dad stayed with DOD, but he worked as a Social Worker in Japan, Germany and Japan again. They would have kept him forever, but at about the age of 72 he decided that he wanted to retire.
Lots of agencies have locations abroad, State, DOD are the predominant ones. US Government jobs have very specific skill-sets, and only folks who worked in goverment will have them.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:13 AM on April 10, 2013
Lots of agencies have locations abroad, State, DOD are the predominant ones. US Government jobs have very specific skill-sets, and only folks who worked in goverment will have them.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:13 AM on April 10, 2013
association with the US national security complex seems to be a bit of a poison pill
If you have one, a security clearance is a HUGELY marketable asset if you are working overseas for an NGO with USG financing or for a USG contractor (which includes in particular organizations implementing USAID programs, if your interest in nonprofits is based on the work they do rather than just their being the most likely to be interested in whatever your skills are). I recommend you actually go and talk to those organizations you're thinking of. Even if you don't have a clearance, as others have pointed out just having the knowledge of funding mechanisms is a pretty good start.
posted by solotoro at 6:54 AM on April 10, 2013
If you have one, a security clearance is a HUGELY marketable asset if you are working overseas for an NGO with USG financing or for a USG contractor (which includes in particular organizations implementing USAID programs, if your interest in nonprofits is based on the work they do rather than just their being the most likely to be interested in whatever your skills are). I recommend you actually go and talk to those organizations you're thinking of. Even if you don't have a clearance, as others have pointed out just having the knowledge of funding mechanisms is a pretty good start.
posted by solotoro at 6:54 AM on April 10, 2013
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posted by Tomorrowful at 3:26 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]