just go ahead and apply bro ra is helpful but it doesn't cover everything. show how you're having difficulty fulfilling the rest after the ra. i doubt those agents even know what RA means , anyway. i applied for hardship in 2006 stating my family having hardship. i got it withing 21 days. next year i reapplied it again, i copied the same letter and only added all of the above things still apply and i got another renewal until my i20 was valid. then i got a opt after that one. i went to immigration town hall meeting few years back and from what i have heard on that meeting is approval rate is 97 percentage. so win your mon ko bag first and the ban ko bag will no longer be there... and come back and thank me for this suggestion around 3 months from now...