US visa rules delay Zimbabwe travellers bound for Puerto Rico pageant

Miss Universe Zimbabwe Roseanna Hall has been unable to leave for Puerto Rico, where the 75th Miss Universe pageant is being held, after problems with a US visa forced her to postpone her departure. She had been in South Africa for the past week and was scheduled to travel on Wednesday to join contestants from around the world.

Key facts

• Who: Roseanna Hall, Miss Universe Zimbabwe
• What: Her planned departure for Puerto Rico has been delayed by US visa difficulties
• When: She was due to travel on Wednesday
• Where: Puerto Rico, host of the 75th Miss Universe pageant
• Cause: Hall linked the delay to restrictions imposed by the United States on Zimbabwe and other nations
• Status: No approved visa and no new departure date have been announced

What happened?

Hall set out the situation in a video message posted on Instagram, explaining that efforts to secure her visa had disrupted her travel plans. She said she had been due to leave that day to represent Zimbabwe at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, but that American visa challenges had delayed the journey.

She said the fight to reach the competition was not over and that she remained confident the situation would be resolved.

Why was she delayed?

Hall said the situation was connected to restrictions affecting Zimbabwe and other nations imposed by the United States. She said securing approval had involved continuing engagement with the relevant stakeholders, but did not say which visa she had applied for, what the restrictions cover or how long the process takes.

Are other contestants affected?

Hall said she was not the only one facing visa problems. "I'm not alone in this predicament," she said, adding that she knew other African contestants were going through the same difficulties and empathised with them.

What this means for travellers

Hall's experience points to US visa restrictions affecting travellers from Zimbabwe and other nations, with delays in securing approval able to disrupt planned departures. The source does not identify the specific restrictions, so travellers from affected countries should confirm current US visa requirements for their own nationality before making plans.

What happens next?

Hall said the Zimbabwean government, individuals, stakeholders and the Miss Universe Zimbabwe organisation and board had been working to resolve the situation, and thanked those helping behind the scenes. She promised to share another update in the coming days and said she would not give up after months of preparation.

Zimbabwean pageant supporters are waiting to see whether her visa is approved in time for her to compete at the 75th Miss Universe pageant.