https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/2025-tax-filing-status-question-nra-vs-married-filing-jointly/01/3717353#M1376880 <P>Hello!</P><P>I have a tax question related to my immigration status. I’ve been in the U.S. since 2022 on an F-1 visa and have been filing taxes as a nonresident alien. I married a U.S. citizen in 2025 and we are currently preparing to file my green card application.</P><P>For the <STRONG>2025 tax return</STRONG>, we were told we should file <STRONG>Married Filing Jointly</STRONG>, which would require me to be treated as a <STRONG>U.S. resident for tax purposes</STRONG>.</P><P>From your experience, which option typically results in <STRONG>lower overall taxes</STRONG>?</P><UL><LI><P>Continue filing as a <STRONG>nonresident alien</STRONG> (Married Filing Separately), or</P></LI><LI><P>Make the choice to be treated as a <STRONG>resident</STRONG> and file <STRONG>Married Filing Jointly</STRONG> with my U.S. citizen spouse.</P></LI></UL><P>We are both graduate students, if that helps.</P> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 22:34:55 GMT AnnieBersch 2025-12-18T22:34:55Z https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/2025-tax-filing-status-question-nra-vs-married-filing-jointly/01/3717353#M1376880 <P>Hello!</P><P>I have a tax question related to my immigration status. I’ve been in the U.S. since 2022 on an F-1 visa and have been filing taxes as a nonresident alien. I married a U.S. citizen in 2025 and we are currently preparing to file my green card application.</P><P>For the <STRONG>2025 tax return</STRONG>, we were told we should file <STRONG>Married Filing Jointly</STRONG>, which would require me to be treated as a <STRONG>U.S. resident for tax purposes</STRONG>.</P><P>From your experience, which option typically results in <STRONG>lower overall taxes</STRONG>?</P><UL><LI><P>Continue filing as a <STRONG>nonresident alien</STRONG> (Married Filing Separately), or</P></LI><LI><P>Make the choice to be treated as a <STRONG>resident</STRONG> and file <STRONG>Married Filing Jointly</STRONG> with my U.S. citizen spouse.</P></LI></UL><P>We are both graduate students, if that helps.</P> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 22:34:55 GMT https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/2025-tax-filing-status-question-nra-vs-married-filing-jointly/01/3717353#M1376880 AnnieBersch 2025-12-18T22:34:55Z https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-2025-tax-filing-status-question-nra-vs-married-filing-jointly/01/3717360#M1376885 <P>Married jointly is almost always better. You could try it both ways and compare.&nbsp;</P> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 22:51:20 GMT https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-2025-tax-filing-status-question-nra-vs-married-filing-jointly/01/3717360#M1376885 Bsch4477 2025-12-18T22:51:20Z