Roseanna Hall’s Miss Universe Journey Is in Limbo Over US Visa Delay

Roseanna Hall’s preparations for the Miss Universe competition have been thrown into uncertainty after delays in securing a visa for the trip to Puerto Rico. The Zimbabwean contestant was left waiting in South Africa as efforts to obtain the required travel documents continued, according to the report. Hall had been due to leave on Sunday, 8 November 2026, for the 75th edition of the pageant. Instead, she remained in South Africa while she and those supporting her tried to resolve the visa problem. “I have been in South Africa for the past week and officially today is the day I was supposed to be leaving for Puerto Rico,” she said, explaining that the process had involved repeated attempts to get her visa approved. The article links the delay to US travel restrictions affecting Zimbabwe and a number of other countries. The restrictions, introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998 and effective from 1 January 2026, cover several categories of visas, including visitor, student, exchange visitor and immigrant visas. They do not amount to a blanket ban on all travel, but applicants from affected countries may still face limits on whether a visa can be issued or entry granted. Hall said the Zimbabwean government, private individuals and the Miss Universe Zimbabwe organisation were working to help her attend. She also expressed solidarity with other African contestants facing similar difficulties, the report says. The pageant’s contestants were scheduled to begin arriving on 8 November for registration, rehearsals and related activities. The final is set for 24 November at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan. With the event approaching, Hall’s participation remains uncertain as efforts to secure approval continue.