I am I j-status from may 2008 ,I start earning mony last July 2009,so first:
Am I resisdent allien for 2009 taxes?
I am married (non resident allien) how should I file :married or single ?
Thanks

You can file jointly with your wife and you both CHOSE to be treated as resident aliens. This will allow you to claim the $11,400 joint standard deduction plus two $3,650 personal exemption (for yourself and your wife).

You will need to submit Forms W-7 to apply for an ITIN for your wife. A notarized photocopy of their passport needs to be stapled to the W-7.

The downside is that:

• you must WAIT to meet the Substantial Presence Test before you can file, which means you must wait until sometime in May 2010.
• you must declare ALL 2009 world-wide income, but you can at least partially offset any double taxation by claiming a Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116).

Even with the downside, this is probably the best way for you to file.