Updated May 2025 · USCIS quarterly data (2023)
Country Comparison · 2023Mexico vs El Salvador
Mexico had 128K immigration applications (rank #1) compared to El Salvador with 26K (rank #6). Mexico has a 99% approval rate while El Salvador has 79%. Mexico (128K applications) outpaces El Salvador (26K) by roughly 5.0x in raw volume — placing the two countries in different size bands of the U.S. immigration pipeline. Mexico sits in the massive tier, while El Salvador is in the large tier.
Verdict
Mexico had 128K immigration applications (rank #1) compared to El Salvador with 26K (rank #6). Mexico has a 99% approval rate while El Salvador has 79%.
Comparing Mexico and El Salvador on USCIS immigration data requires looking at three things: application volume, approval rate, and the mix of visa categories that applicants from each country tend to use. The per-country pages cover each axis in detail; the comparison below summarizes the highest-impact differences.
Country-specific quota dynamics, particularly for family-based and employment-based green cards, can produce very different actual timelines from the headline USCIS processing times. The State Department Visa Bulletin governs when an applicant from a backlogged country can move to the next stage; the headline USCIS processing-time data does not capture that priority-date wait.
Side-by-Side Snapshot
| Metric | Mexico | El Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Total Applications | 128K | 26K |
| Approval Rate | 99% | 79% |
| Country Rank | #1 | #6 |
| Visa Categories | 5 | 5 |
How Mexico and El Salvador Compare on Volume
Mexico (128K applications) outpaces El Salvador (26K) by roughly 5.0x in raw volume — placing the two countries in different size bands of the U.S. immigration pipeline. Mexico sits in the massive tier, while El Salvador is in the large tier.
Both countries sit close together in the overall U.S. application ranking — Mexico at #1 and El Salvador at #6 of 198 tracked countries — meaning they occupy comparable positions in the broader immigration pipeline. For broader context on long-run migration patterns by origin country, the DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics publishes annual flow data going back decades, and the U.S. Department of State publishes the monthly Visa Bulletin that governs visa availability under the per-country numerical caps in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
How They Compare on Approval Rate
Mexico's 99% approval rate runs 20 points above El Salvador's 79% — a wide spread that typically signals either a meaningfully different visa-type mix between the two countries, or substantive differences in eligibility documentation common to filings from each origin. Mexico sits in the very high approval tier while El Salvador is in the high tier.
Approval rates are computed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as approved cases divided by completed cases, excluding still-pending applications. Cross-country gaps usually trace to one of three factors: the visa-type mix (family-sponsored petitions approve at higher rates than employment-based or humanitarian filings), documentation patterns common to filings from a given origin, or eligibility-criteria gaps surfaced during background checks. None of these are policy choices specific to a country — USCIS adjudication standards are uniform across origins.
Top Visa Types
The two countries lean toward different visa categories: Mexico's top type is Family Spouse (53K filings), while El Salvador's is Family 2nd Pref (7.3K). Different dominant categories indicate different migration drivers — for example, employment-heavy origins versus family-reunification-heavy origins, or origins where humanitarian filings dominate versus those concentrated in skilled-worker programs.
Mexico
El Salvador
How This Comparison Is Calculated
Application counts are aggregated from USCIS quarterly performance disclosures for fiscal year 2023, summing across all visa categories filed by beneficiaries from each country. Approval rate is computed as approved cases divided by completed cases (approvals plus denials), excluding still-pending applications. Country rank orders all 198 tracked sending countries by total applications, with #1 being the highest-volume origin. The DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics provides cross-checks against historical baselines. Read the full VisaTracker methodology for definitions, edge cases, and refresh cadence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Mexico have more applications than El Salvador?
Mexico (128K applications) outpaces El Salvador (26K) by roughly 5.0x in raw volume — placing the two countries in different size bands of the U.S. immigration pipeline. Mexico sits in the massive tier, while El Salvador is in the large tier. Differences this size usually reflect population, diaspora networks, and historical migration patterns rather than any policy distinction in how the two countries are treated. The U.S. State Department and DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics publish historical context on the long-run drivers of country-by-country volume.
Why are approval rates different between Mexico and El Salvador?
Mexico's 99% approval rate runs 20 points above El Salvador's 79% — a wide spread that typically signals either a meaningfully different visa-type mix between the two countries, or substantive differences in eligibility documentation common to filings from each origin. Mexico sits in the very high approval tier while El Salvador is in the high tier. The composition of visa-type filings is the largest single driver: countries weighted toward family-sponsored or diversity-visa categories typically post higher approval rates than countries weighted toward employment-based, asylum, or refugee filings, where eligibility analysis is heavier.
What types of visas dominate Mexico and El Salvador filings?
The two countries lean toward different visa categories: Mexico's top type is Family Spouse (53K filings), while El Salvador's is Family 2nd Pref (7.3K). Different dominant categories indicate different migration drivers — for example, employment-heavy origins versus family-reunification-heavy origins, or origins where humanitarian filings dominate versus those concentrated in skilled-worker programs. Reviewing each country's full visa-type distribution on its country profile gives a clearer picture of the underlying migration story.
Where does this comparison data come from?
Application counts and approval rates come from USCIS quarterly disclosure data, supplemented by the DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics published by the Office of Homeland Security Statistics. Both are public-domain U.S. government sources. This comparison aggregates filings by beneficiary country of birth or country of chargeability as reported in those datasets.
Is this comparison giving immigration advice?
No. This is general data analysis of public USCIS records, not legal advice. The comparison does not reflect individual case factors like beneficiary qualifications, priority dates, country-cap effects under the Immigration and Nationality Act, or the practical wait times specific to a particular visa category. For guidance on a specific case, consult an immigration attorney or an accredited representative recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Sources: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) quarterly performance data for fiscal year 2023; DHS Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics; U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. All inputs are public-domain U.S. government data.
Cite as: "VisaTracker, Mexico vs El Salvador comparison, May 2025. Data: USCIS quarterly performance reports, fiscal year 2023."