Foreign born MI6 agents, a case study of agent Thiago Rodriguez
thegreatgalling
Posts: 180MI6 Agent
According to the MI6 security requirements, "for any role in MI6" a person "must meet the following criteria:
...
"You must be a British citizen. In addition, at least one of your parents must be (or have been) a British citizen or have substantial ties with the UK.
...
You will also need to meet our residency rule. This means that you will need to have lived in the UK for the majority of the last 10 years prior to your application. There are some exceptions to this rule, for example, studying abroad, serving overseas with HM forces or living overseas with your parents, and you may still be eligible even if you have not been here for all that time."
https://www.sis.gov.uk/careers/working-for-us/security-vetting.html
Assuming Javier Bardem and Thiago Rodriguez, aka Raoul Silva, are the same age, Javier Bardem was born in 1969 (42 during the filming of Skyfall). Since Silva was turned over to the Chinese in 1997, Silva would have been 28 years old. He served with MI6 from 1986-1997. Silva would have been 17 years old in 1986.
We know that as a child, he spent time at his Grandmother's island, and he must have lived in a Spanish speaking country, probably Spain based on the accent, long enough to develop a moderate to strong accent.
Based on the rules, Silva would have HAD to live in the UK for the majority of ten years prior to his citizenship and one of his parents also had significant ties to the UK or was a citizen. That would mean his family moved to the UK when he was about 7 years old.
There is an exception to those abroad serving in the HM Forces. But at least according to HM Armed Forces:
"For entry into the Armed Forces, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be a British, Commonwealth, British Protected Citizen or an Irish National OR hold Dual nationality
with one of the fore-mentioned.
-You must normally have resided in the UK* or Ireland for a period of 5 years immediately prior to making an
application. If you have not achieved this, do not worry as it will depend on where you have lived and the
length of time out of the country. Your AFCA will be able to advise you on the detail but it may affect the
career or job you are applying for. However, some jobs carry a 10-year rule rather than 5 years. If relevant,
please complete the periods out of UK or Ireland as accurately as possible."
"http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/AFCO_Form5-U.pdf"
As an immigrant from Spain with no other status, Silva would not be eligible for HM forces. Since you have to be 16, he could only have served up to a year before applying to MI6 anyway.
Perhaps there was a Hong Kong connection?
To make matters even more interesting, history shows there were numerous changes in the law for Hong Kong nationals and how their status within the UK changed with HK being a colony.
Between the British Nationality Act 1948, the Immigration Act, 1971, and the British Nationality Act, 1981, if Silva had instead moved to Hong Kong as a teenager and obtained HK citizenship, he may have been able to join HM Forces as a British protected person, and qualified for UK citizenship. Either way, one of his parents would have been significantly connected to the UK.
Thus:
Theory 1: Silva moved from Spain to the UK when he was a young boy, one of his parents was a UK citizen. He went on to obtain citizenship, and applied to MI6.
Theory 2: Silva moved from Spain to Hong Kong, became a HK Citizen, and either a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, or a British Dependent Territories Citizen, joined the Armed forces and achieved UK Citizenship, and then applied to MI6.
Theory 3: Silva was born in the UK, and moved to Spain for a number of years, until returning to meet the citizenship requirements.
Any thoughts?
...
"You must be a British citizen. In addition, at least one of your parents must be (or have been) a British citizen or have substantial ties with the UK.
...
You will also need to meet our residency rule. This means that you will need to have lived in the UK for the majority of the last 10 years prior to your application. There are some exceptions to this rule, for example, studying abroad, serving overseas with HM forces or living overseas with your parents, and you may still be eligible even if you have not been here for all that time."
https://www.sis.gov.uk/careers/working-for-us/security-vetting.html
Assuming Javier Bardem and Thiago Rodriguez, aka Raoul Silva, are the same age, Javier Bardem was born in 1969 (42 during the filming of Skyfall). Since Silva was turned over to the Chinese in 1997, Silva would have been 28 years old. He served with MI6 from 1986-1997. Silva would have been 17 years old in 1986.
We know that as a child, he spent time at his Grandmother's island, and he must have lived in a Spanish speaking country, probably Spain based on the accent, long enough to develop a moderate to strong accent.
Based on the rules, Silva would have HAD to live in the UK for the majority of ten years prior to his citizenship and one of his parents also had significant ties to the UK or was a citizen. That would mean his family moved to the UK when he was about 7 years old.
There is an exception to those abroad serving in the HM Forces. But at least according to HM Armed Forces:
"For entry into the Armed Forces, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be a British, Commonwealth, British Protected Citizen or an Irish National OR hold Dual nationality
with one of the fore-mentioned.
-You must normally have resided in the UK* or Ireland for a period of 5 years immediately prior to making an
application. If you have not achieved this, do not worry as it will depend on where you have lived and the
length of time out of the country. Your AFCA will be able to advise you on the detail but it may affect the
career or job you are applying for. However, some jobs carry a 10-year rule rather than 5 years. If relevant,
please complete the periods out of UK or Ireland as accurately as possible."
"http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/AFCO_Form5-U.pdf"
As an immigrant from Spain with no other status, Silva would not be eligible for HM forces. Since you have to be 16, he could only have served up to a year before applying to MI6 anyway.
Perhaps there was a Hong Kong connection?
To make matters even more interesting, history shows there were numerous changes in the law for Hong Kong nationals and how their status within the UK changed with HK being a colony.
Between the British Nationality Act 1948, the Immigration Act, 1971, and the British Nationality Act, 1981, if Silva had instead moved to Hong Kong as a teenager and obtained HK citizenship, he may have been able to join HM Forces as a British protected person, and qualified for UK citizenship. Either way, one of his parents would have been significantly connected to the UK.
Thus:
Theory 1: Silva moved from Spain to the UK when he was a young boy, one of his parents was a UK citizen. He went on to obtain citizenship, and applied to MI6.
Theory 2: Silva moved from Spain to Hong Kong, became a HK Citizen, and either a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, or a British Dependent Territories Citizen, joined the Armed forces and achieved UK Citizenship, and then applied to MI6.
Theory 3: Silva was born in the UK, and moved to Spain for a number of years, until returning to meet the citizenship requirements.
Any thoughts?
Comments
Many Foreign agents worked for MI6 . Kermin Bey in Turkey etc
Although given the choices you have furnished I'd go with Theory 2.
I never got the impression Kerim Bey was an "agent" within the usual definition of the term. MI6 had contacts and friendlies all over the place, such as the Cuban cigar manufacturer in DAD, etc.
I guess it comes down to the definition.
According to the International Spy Museum
By that definition, Kerim Bey is indeed an agent, though I would feel more comfortable with "asset" as the used parlance, based on the fact that "agent" is usually used to connote a rank and file Intelligence Officer.
You are obviously right that assets need no eligibility. The eligibility requirements say "for any role in MI6" which would include Intelligence Officers. Certainly anyone can be an MI6 asset, and if that is what Silva is then certainly the conversation ends there.
But take the dialogue from the film. Silva says:
"Back then, I was her favorite. And you're not nearly the agent I was, I can tell you that."
This would certainly imply Silva considered himself more than a foreign asset, especially since Bond obviously isn't one.
Maybe he was a predacessor to Q2 in some ways? Although hands on with weapons and resourceful, his IT and hacking skills are clearly his greatest ability. In an odd way, Q implies this himself, when highlighting what he can do in his banter with Bond at The National Gallery.
Word reads better in the script, with no acknowledgment to the real world ?
This hadn't occurred to me when watching previous Bond films.
I wouldn't necessarily call Silva a 00, I don't think its implied he is one, but rather an MI6 agent, much like Ronson or Moneypenny who are run of the mill field agents.
M was only a section chief at the time in Hong Kong, which leads me to believe she would not have direct leadership over a 00, who instead get their missions from the acting M.
Very interesting thought.
I agree with you Galling. This again makes me think Silva was more a specialist like Q2 and certainly not a 00. The fact M-Manf gave him to the Chinese while she was section head supports this idea too. Plus his confidence in playing Bond comes from comparisons on who they are and general skills, marksmanship, physical health, mental resilience, than anything else.