@academicsheep , having read through your post and answer by my colleague @DaveF1006 ( and agreeing), I would like to draw attention to a few things:
(a) US-India Tax treaty requires an Indian student to be treated the same as a domestic student for tax purposes. Thus the limitation of 1040-NR to allowing ONLY itemized deduction is rescinded and therefore an Indian student can choose standard deduction if it benefits him/her.
(b) But this freedom ( to be treated like domestic student ) comes with other rules. Married tax payers filing separately ( MFS) are required to choose the same deduction method i.e. if one chooses itemized then the other must choose the same type.
(c) Also because you are married , you can indeed choose to file MFJ ( if she has a tax id ) by requesting to be treated as a resident for tax purposes ( because she is married to a Resident Alien ( or Resident for Tax purposes).
Your suggested path would be considered double dipping and would not be allowed.
Is there more I can do for you ?
Namaste ji
pk
