USA married filing jointly query

[sarangbaheti]

Hi,

I recently moved to USA, and going to be tax resident for this financial year. I am married and my spouse won't be coming to USA till Feb 2013.
Query is can I file my returns as married jointly and claim spouse as dependent?

Thank you.

Regards,
Sarang

 

[kirby]

IRS says for you to file a joint return with a "nonresident alien spouse" your spouse needs to have either a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

 

[dannygenio]

Question is too general.

Need more detail. (what country is she from)
Is she working?
If she has a job outside of US. Prob not a good idea to file jointly. If she has no job, I would file jointly.