so there is another issue you need to consider. You were a resident alien and your wife a nonresident alien. Nonresident aliens cannot file a joint return. So you have the following option: 1) File married filing separately without claiming an exemption for your spouse. You would not need to apply for an ITIN. 2) File married filing separately with claiming an exemption for your spouse ,assuming she had no US source income. You would need to apply for an ITIN. 3) File jointly. Both of you would have to report worldwide income for the entire year. This requires adding a statement that you both choose to treat her as as resident alien for the entire year. Also requires an ITIN. You need to carefully consider this last option, as this choice is in effect until either both of you are nonresident aliens or it is revoked (in which case it can never be made again). So if only you are coming back to the US and your wife has income abroad, you would always have to report that.
