I called the Atlanta Hon Consul about SETV last week. I was told that they follow the Embassy requirements to the letter, ie proof of trip out and $700 in the bank.

 

Plus you need to appear in person. Mail takes 2 weeks to process and that cuts into visa validity time

 

It is normally less than two weeks.

Your passport would be sent to you on the date it is issued so you would only lose a couple of days of the 3 months of validity of it to enter the country, You can enter the country on the last day and still get a 60 day entry.