There are no exceptions, that is why married filing separately is a disadvantaged tax status. Congress made it that way. You have the option of filing a joint return with your spouse by declaring your spouse a US resident for tax purposes. However, this would mean that you must list all of your spouses worldwide income and make it subject to US taxation. You would get a credit on your tax return for any foreign taxes that your spouse pays on the same income. Whether this is ultimately worth it would have to be tested for your unique circumstances.
if you declare your spouse as a US resident for tax purposes, you must apply for an ITIN, international tax ID number, for your spouse. You would do this by preparing a form W-7 ITIN application. Print and sign your tax return and mail the tax return, the W-7, and any proof of identity required by the W-7 to the IRS address used for processing W-7 applications. After the IRS issues the ITIN and returns your identity documentation, they will then process the tax return.
