my friend:
11/20/03 stamped
(valid one year, the officer said about 1 to 1.5 year to get the card)
12/12/03 got mail said: "your will get your card within 30 days"
12/14/03 got another two copies of the same 30 day notice from mail.
12/18/03 got card from mail. (merry christmas)
the stamp is the same for your gc status as the real card. both US and china see it just like the real card. no problem for work, travel at all.
the most important thing is that your name, picture, A# and...already in in the computer system together with all other gc holder.