My Unexpected Lesson at U.S. Border Control: The Mysterious “White Paper”

In 2012, I was holding a B1/B2 U.S. visa and boarding an ANA flight to LAX as a business development trainee. A small technology company, with a very kind boss, had hired me to explore opportunities for expanding its business into the Chinese market.

ANA was good—the food was delicious, and the seats were comfortable. I enjoyed the flight.
Maybe a little too much.

I must have been too tired because I slept through most of the journey. Whether the flight attendants forgot to wake me up or simply didn’t want to disturb my sound sleep, I never received the document I was supposed to fill out. And I had no idea that I even needed to.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly until I reached the final checkpoint at border control. Just one step away from officially setting my foot in the United States.

“Where’s your white paper?”

It was my turn. The border officer, a man with an impassive expression, looked straight at me.

“White paper?” I was confused. “I have all my documents here. What white paper, sir?” As I spoke, I rummaged through my plastic document case, hoping to find whatever he was referring to.

“You should have a white paper.” He remained seated, uninterested, his eyes looking elsewhere.

I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Sir, I don’t know what a white paper is, and I can’t find any” My voice wavered slightly. I was nervous.

“Then I can’t let you in.”

“What can I do, sir?” My voice trembled so much that I could feel it. 

“I don’t know. All I know is you don’t have the white paper.”

Without another word, he called the next person forward, leaving me standing there, helpless and confused.

For a few moments, I stood to the side, scanning my documents again and again, trying to figure out what I was missing. But I had no clue.

I looked around. Police officers with guns patrolled the immigration area. Summoning my courage, I approached one of them—a tall, stern-looking officer.

“Sir,” I hesitated, then continued, “the officer said I don’t have a white paper, but I don’t know what that means. Could you help me?”

He listened, without rushing me or interrupting, as I explained my situation.  And he gestured for me to follow him.

He led me to a small room—what some of my Chinese counterparts call the “Little Black Room.”  It was neither little nor black, just an ordinary office. But at that moment, it felt like a refuge—someone was finally willing to help me figure this out.

The officer left me alone while he walked out. After a few minutes, he returned with a form in his hand.

“This is what you need. Fill it out with your information.”

I quickly complied, completing the form as instructed. Once done, he walked me back to the immigration counter and watched as I handed the form to another officer.

And just like that, the problem was solved.

It turned out the “white paper” was actually Form I-94, a document required for foreign travelers entering the U.S. It was usually distributed on the plane, but since I had slept through the flight, I never received it.

After I got my passport stamped, I noticed the officer who had helped me was still nearby. Gathering my courage, I walked up to him again.

“Sir, would it be possible for you to escort me through the entry? I was a bit scared by that border officer.”

He smiled. Like just a while ago, he walked with me, his presence reassuring. Armed and imposing as he was, at that moment, he seemed like my hero.

Later, I learned that this process was called “Secondary Inspection.” It sounds intimidating, but in reality, as long as you tell the truth and provide accurate travel information, there’s nothing to fear.

Since April 2013, Form I-94 have become electronic, so travelers no longer need to fill it out on the plane. However, other requirements—like EVUS registration for Chinese B1/B2 visa holders—must still be followed.

Looking back, I realize how important it is to stay informed about entry requirements and procedures. But more importantly, I learned that most officers, like the one who helped me, are willing to listen and assist. If you ever find yourself in a difficult situation at immigration, don’t panic—seek help, be honest, and stay calm. That’s the most important thing.