also, does anyone know if it's normal when you check your submitted e-visa application for it to say 'pending payment' rather than 'processing'? thanks
Yes, others may have said this, but you need to book an appointment - which you can do online - at the Canadian embassy to get a certified copy of your passport and then present this at the bank. I did this, on a tourist visa, and then opened an account very easily at Bangkok Bank in Siam Paragon.