I am a J1 visa holder with resident alien status for 2018 tax year. is my J-2 dependent spouse a resident alien or is a non-resident alien for 2018 tax year?

[gurmeetkaur7788]

i am a J1 visa holder and entered usa in 2016. my spouse entered usa in 2017 on J-2 status. I am a resident alien for 2018 tax year. so does my spouse automatically become a resident alien or are they a non-resident alien for 2018 tax year and can opt to file a joint return with me as a resident aliend?

[KarenJ]

If you are a J1 scholar visa holder and your spouse entered the US when you did in 2016, then your spouse will be a resident in 2018, same as you.  If so, you can file a married filing jointly tax return with TurboTax.

[gurmeetkaur7788]

My spouse entered in 2017 as I mentioned in the question details above. Please verify your answer

[pk]

@gurmeetkaur7788 , @TurboTaxKarenJ  ---even if your spouse entered in 2017, her visa being  based on your visa ( dependent visa ) , you both have the same tax filing status i.e. if you are a resident for tax purposes, your spouse is also the same -- resident for tax purposes.