@TomD8 - before posting, I used the IRS app to assess HOH.... While I agree that HOH is permitted if the NRA spouse lived separate from the taxpayer with a qualifying dependent, the tool indicates that if the two lived together, HOH is not a permissible status - it has to be MFS with no flexibility:
As soon I answered that the two were married and lived together, this is the resulting filing status:
"Your filing status is married filing separately. You are not eligible for any other filing status."
if I answered they were married and didnt live together, after entering info about the qualifying dependent, indeed, HOH was the resulting status.
The OP indicated they lived together.
https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-my-filing-status
However, I do stand corrected.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/international-taxpayers-filing-status-if-married-to-a-nonresident-alien....
OPTION NUMBER TWO IS TO FILE AS HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS STATUS, YOU MUST HAVE PAID MORE THAN HALF THE COST OF KEEPING UP YOUR HOME FOR THE YEAR.
IN ADDITION, A QUALIFYING PERSON MUST HAVE LIVED WITH YOU IN YOUR HOME FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THE YEAR.
TO FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY, USE WORKSHEET 1, “COST OF KEEPING UP A HOME,” IN PUBLICATION 501 TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU PAID MORE THAN HALF OF THE COST OF KEEPING UP YOUR HOME.
YOU CAN USE TABLE FOUR IN PUBLICATION 501 TO SEE IF YOU ARE A QUALIFYING PERSON.
ANY PERSON NOT DESCRIBED IN TABLE FOUR IS NOT A QUALIFYING PERSON.
BUT IF BOTH CONDITIONS WE JUST DISCUSSED DO EXIST.
THAT IS, YOU MUST HAVE PAID MORE THAN HALF THE COST OF KEEPING UP YOUR HOME FOR THE YEAR AND A QUALIFYING PERSON MUST HAVE LIVED WITH YOU IN YOUR HOME FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THE YEAR.
THEN, YOU MAY CHOOSE THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD FILING STATUS.
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