Advise me on Visitor VISA for my father

[bhaskarvempati]

Currently, I am on F1 OPT and working full time. My F1 VISA was expired last year. I would like to invite my father for my doctoral graduation ceremony on May 20th,2008 and am taking invitation letter from my University. I can not get my H1 VISA before 2008 October. Can I send documents with my expired VISA? or Do I need to wait until I get H1 Visa? If I wait for my H1 Visa, my father will miss my graduation ceremony. Please advise me.

[PraetorianXI]

Your father is better showing self sponsoring for this trip and you just providing an invitation letter. You have no permanent legal status in the US (as the OPT will expire and have not secured an H1B visa) so, there is no point in you attempting to sponsor him.

[ramabalaji]

Praetorian XI is correct. I did the same thing when I applied for my visitor visa B2 in April 2005 to attend my son's graduation function. I got my visa and attended the function