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.
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.