This bill, titled the Putting Highest Degrees First Act of 2025 (PHDs First Act), would create an exemption from the usual annual numerical limits on U.S. permanent residency (green cards) for a defined group of foreign nationals who earned a doctoral degree in the United States. To qualify, the individual must have earned a doctoral (or the terminal highest degree when a doctoral is not available) from a U.S. institution accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, have a job offer or current employment in a field related to that degree with pay above the local median wage, and be admissible under a valid labor certification. If these conditions are met, they could petition for permanent residence under the IR/immigrant visa process. The bill also amends the nonimmigrant visa framework to permit “dual intent” for F-1 students pursuing such doctoral degrees, allowing them to seek permanent residence while on a student visa without having to abandon the intent to immigrate. In short, the bill would give a targeted, expedited pathway to U.S. permanent residency to certain U.S.-educated PhD holders with job offers and labor certification, and would formally recognize dual intent for F-1 students pursuing those doctoral degrees.