Someone that I know is an alien graduate student studying at a US university, working for that university and married to an alien spouse. Does the alien spouse need a tax ID number to file a US income tax return? Can the alien file for Earned Income Credit? He and his spouse lived in the US for the entire year and they will declare their worldwide income on their US income tax return. Can this alient also file for a lifetime learning credit on the tuition that he paid to the US university?

Visa type for both? When did they enter the US?