I m physican on J visa entered US in 06/16,hence resident Alien,my wife entered US in 4/17,started working 4/18 on J2.Should we file tax jointly as Resident aliens?

[harmandeep0814]

Can she be considered as Resident alien despite not meeting the criteria for significant presence? Her W2 shows deductions for Social security tax.

[pk]

Your exempt status would have been over  sometime in June of 2018 and absent any treaty conditions ( what country? ), you would be resident alien for tax purposes sometime near the end of the year. Your wife's visa being a dependent visa , her immigration status would be the same as yours.  Thus you can file a dual  status  filer ( TubroTax does not support this ) or as a resident for the whole year ( you have to request this -- both have to sign and date this ), implying file by mail and the use of form 1040 & TurboTax