RE: So many jobs want CURRENT security clearances

[MList -at- chrysalis-its -dot- com]

eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com suggested:
 
> In the end I might even be inclined to argue that the requirement for
> clearance IS fair. After all, if some one with clearance is available
> isn't it only fair to hold the job for them instead of giving it to
> someone that has yet to perform the necessary steps to get clearance
> themselves?


Are there actually workable procedures where a person 
can simply request a form at the FBI (USA), RCMP/CSIS (Canada) 
or other (your country, whoever you are), and the clearance 
process just automatically procedes until they receive a certificate 
of some sort to wave in the faces of prospective employers? Does that 
process have a user fee that's manageable by an unemployed writer 
or editor who's simultaneously trying to keep the family fed and 
sheltered?

Isn't one of the clearance sticking points... being unemployed?

I've got SECRET at the moment, because my employer entered into 
situations that carried the requirement. For the first year or 
two with this company it was not an issue, then they had to 
clear a bunch of us, which took many, many months to happen, 
after we'd filled out the forms.  When I was in the military, 
I had TOPSECRET compartmentalized clearances, which were processed 
by THAT employer.  I don't believe I've ever met anyone (maybe 
I just didn't think to ask, but I notice that nobody in this 
list of many thousands has volunteered...) who had themselves 
cleared, as a private person with no present need.

/kevin