QUOTE(slim @ Jul 9 2007, 09:21 AM)

Better wait for Satellite's input on this one. He's not a lawyer yet, but he's the resident "expert" when it comes to immigration law and paperwork stuff. I'd trust his opinion on this one before my own!
I think you nailed it with your post.
Simply put they are looking to see how many people are tied to your income. So putting down your dad will be like an additional household member. That may or may not make a difference. The second thing they are checking is to see just how many people you have sponsored in the past, kind of looking for fraud, if there is a new "bride" every year or so.
Then again the I-134, though not enforceable probably has some kind of statute of limitations. Your dad, if he returned to Russia or became a US citizen would make the I-134 mute. Although that is not written anywhere, I am just guessing and drawing my information from the I-864, which is the enforceable and better-worded affidavit.
I'd put him down just to be on the safe side.
As for being a lawyer, I'll only finish law school in December, bar in February, and hopefully positive results in May. So it's still a good 10 months before you can seek my services