What is exactly I181 notice?

[imgdoctor]

After our case was approved at a local office We got I-181 "Welcome notice" from VSC saying the case is being processed and if approved cards will be mailed directly to our address. I checked online status with the receipt numbers and it said "case approved", notice mailed. Do they mean plastic card is mailed? I've seen others receiving emails saying actual card was mailed.

I also learned that after your I485 is approved and you get I551 stamp in passport, your case is still not completed, In fact you are not "officially LPR" until you are registered in the database. They still do some background check with CIA before issuing your card. That is why some people traveling with their I551 stamps are having issues at port of entry, because their names are not in the final database.

 

[Madison04]

Have you received your physical card yet? I got the same I181 yesterday after having got my stamp more than 4 months ago. The online status also says "case approved". I guess it is the card itself, but don't know for sure yet.

As soon as your 485 is approved, you're "offically" LPR. The fact that your name hasn't been registered in their database doesn't mean you're not a LPR. Of course you'll experience some minor inconeniences at POE if your approval is so fresh, but they'll let you in eventually.