If you're being deported and are the parent, spouse, widow, or child of a U­S citizen, you may be eligible to apply for legal permanent resident status with an immigration judge. You can also apply if your priority date for permanent residence is “current". This type of relief from deportation is a privilege, not a right. You must prove that you deserve the adjustment of status. If your grounds for applying for adjustment of status are marriage to a U­S citizen, you must prove that the marriage is genuine. This will be much harder to prove if the marriage took place after deportation proceedings began. If your marriage to a U­S citizen is not regarded as bona fide (bone­uh fide), you will probably have to live outside the U­S for a period of two years. The burden of proof is also higher if the marriage took place after deportation proceedings have begun. Being granted an adjustment of status means that your status is changed to “permanent resident," and the deportation proceedings against you are dropped.