Hello,
I hope someone can help and clear up a very simple question :)
We are J1/J2 visa holder and have passed the substantial presence test, so do we file our taxes as resident or non res? I was told that I could do either? What are the advantages/disadvantages of filing as res/non res?

I used turbotax and it didn't even ask if I was a resident or not, so we we simply follow the steps and file a normal 1040?
Thanks for your help!
:D

TurboTax is designed for U.S. citizens, not visiting foreign nationals.

If you are married, you have the option of filing jointly and choosing to be treated as resident aliens. By doing so, however, you make yourself liable for Social Security and Medicare taxes in 2007.