You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.
It depends -
If your wife was here on an H-4 visa during 2017, she may be considered a US resident alien for all of 2017 if she meets the substantial presence test during the time she was here on this H-4 visa. In this instance, she would be required to file a US income tax return if her income is above the income threshold for filing.
For F-1 visa holders, she will be exempt from the Substantial Presence Test for the first 2 (if non-student) or 5 (if student) calendar years that she is in the US. This means that she would be considered a non-resident aliens for US tax purposes under the F-1 visa.
See this link for additional information US Tax Guide for Aliens.
For your US tax filings, you will either have to file a married filing separately or married filings jointly.
You can file jointly with your nonresident alien spouse but if your spouse does not have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), you will need to apply for one. To apply for an ITIN, you would use Form W-7 and would need to attached your tax return to this form (see below).
Click here for more information about Claiming Non-Citizen Spouse and Children On Your Taxes.
You have 3 main options for filing your income tax return:
Here are some additional steps for filing married filing jointly if spouse needs an ITIN.
It depends -
If your wife was here on an H-4 visa during 2017, she may be considered a US resident alien for all of 2017 if she meets the substantial presence test during the time she was here on this H-4 visa. In this instance, she would be required to file a US income tax return if her income is above the income threshold for filing.
For F-1 visa holders, she will be exempt from the Substantial Presence Test for the first 2 (if non-student) or 5 (if student) calendar years that she is in the US. This means that she would be considered a non-resident aliens for US tax purposes under the F-1 visa.
See this link for additional information US Tax Guide for Aliens.
For your US tax filings, you will either have to file a married filing separately or married filings jointly.
You can file jointly with your nonresident alien spouse but if your spouse does not have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), you will need to apply for one. To apply for an ITIN, you would use Form W-7 and would need to attached your tax return to this form (see below).
Click here for more information about Claiming Non-Citizen Spouse and Children On Your Taxes.
You have 3 main options for filing your income tax return:
Here are some additional steps for filing married filing jointly if spouse needs an ITIN.
Still have questions?
Make a postAsk questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.
green2ski
Level 2
AllApplicableUserIDsTaken
Level 1
Klyons
New Member
julienitti
New Member
ar2024
Level 1
Did the information on this page answer your question?
You have clicked a link to a site outside of the TurboTax Community. By clicking "Continue", you will leave the Community and be taken to that site instead.