The United States has introduced a new "visa bond" pilot program that could require some Nigerian travellers to pay between $5,000 and $15,000 before they are granted a visa.
The program is designed to stop people from "overstaying" their visas.
An overstay happens when a person enters the U.S. legally but does not leave when their permitted time is up.
The bond acts like a security deposit; if the traveller leaves the U.S. on time, the money is returned. However, if they stay too long, the U.S. government keeps the money.
This new rule does not affect everyone.
It mainly targets people applying for tourist and business visas (B-1 and B-2 visas) from countries where a high number of citizens have overstayed in the past.
Nigeria is one of the countries on this list.
U.S. officials explained that the goal is to make sure people follow the law.
"The bond is a way to ensure that travellers have a strong reason to return home," a report stated.
The Nigerian government has not yet made an official statement on how it will respond to this new travel requirement.
