Mint IRA and the advertised 5500 deduction value- How?

I'd already been considering opening an IRA, but it's all Latin to me and there's an overwhelming number of options. Personally, I don't care about anything but the bottom line: What do I need to open with Mint/where on the site, how much do I have to invest immediately or by the cut off (April?), and how long must I wait to a) be approved and b) acquire that $5500 deductible to weigh against a standard deduction?