I am on L1 visa. I reached US on Jan 21 and this is my visit to US.My wife will be joining me in some time. I want to know if can file my status as married before she joins me in US, right now I have kept my status as Single.
I know people who filed as Married even though their spouse were not in US.
But i want to know if by doing so, if we can file as married even when spouse is not in US?
She will not work for couple of months once she reaches US.

AtlantaTaxExpert

If you and your wife CHOOSE to be treated as resident aliens for all of 2006, then you can file jointly with her. She is filing as the non-resident alien spouse of a resident alien (you).

However, in doing so, you make ALL of your world-wide income subject to U.S. taxes. This is of no consequence if your wife has no income. If she did have income in 2006, that must be considered before you choose this option.