Hi, I got my H1B visa approved on Nov 1st 2010. I was on OPT until then. I am married to a green card holder. We both work and live in California.
1) How should I file taxes? What form to use?

Any help will be great.

Call the tax people. As government departments go, they are far and away the most helpful.

In most cases, filing jointly for BOTH the federal and California return makes the most sense.

However, to know for sure, I need to know:

- what YOU made in income world-wide in 2010.
- what your spouse made in income world-wide in 2010.

So do we just use 1040 or do we need a special form such as 1040NR?
I made around 50K and my spouse made around 70K.
Thanks.