Filed 2008 tax jointly with wife using ITIN. Same week she got SSN n filed separate also w/o my info.Any pro?

Did she sign your joint return? - if not, it would not be valid. The IRS won't care about any agreement you had to file jointly - they will accept the first return they receive - and once an election is made for that year whether to file joint or separate (the "election" is made by filing either a return or an extension), it cannot be revoked. I would call the IRS and find out which return they received first, and then explain the mistake, and ask what you should do from there onwards. As long as you are completely honest and forthcoming, you will be OK.

So, tell us, did you have an agreement to file jointly?

If yes, write a letter, signed by both of you, to ask the IRS to zero out her return. She will have to return any refund she got from the on campus job (you included the income on your return, right?).

The other poster is misleading. If a valid joint return was filed, it cannot be undone. if your wife filed separately and then agreed to file jointly, this is legal for 3 *years* after the due date. What your wife can't do is have MFJ with you and MFS (or worse, single or an invalid HOH) without you.

it is not clear to me how you could file her on your joint return without her knowing, and signing it

with the two different numbers, it will be difficult but possible for this to be detected