nanodude,
In addition to my previous post, nonimmigrant visas (including O-visa categry) are typically adjudicated much quicker than the imigration petitions. How easy is a particular category really depends on your qualifications and how lucky you are. A few of us (jollyfella, myself, and possibly a few others) had our entire GC process completed in less than four months.
By the way, my institution filed O-visa for me a few years back and the case was approved in less than 10 days. If the time is the essence, you may want to take the nonimmigrant visa route. If I remember correctly, you were born in India. Hence your priority date is not current and you cannot file I-485 and I-765 immediately. It may take a few months before you can file I-765, and then allow another 30-90 days for this petitionto be approved.