Is your problem is payment option is gone in the profile? If so try to login after 1 to 2 hours
Hi
@yenice really appreciate that you took the time to reply. Just an update for when someone inevitably runs into this problem in the future and finds this thread:
1. DO NOT leave the submission to the last minute like me

2. The PR application 'continue' and 'decline invitation' options will come back in about 45 - 60 minutes, don't worry. It disappeared 2 times for me each time there was a payment error, and it came back. Just have faith.
3. The KEY issue is that banks automatically often reject such large transaction requests. My hunch also is that, at least in India where most card transactions need a one time password (OTP), the IRCC payment page has no setup to process that and hence it could be one of the reasons. However many others have said they didn't need an OTP and could pay with an Indian (credit) card. Debit is less likely to work from what I understand.
4. MAKE SURE your bank knows the charge is going to come and set up a standing instruction for them to authorise the credit card transaction. Indian banks can be a bit dense with understanding this.
5. If at all you can, arrange in advance with someone in the US or Canada to use their credit card. What finally worked for me was using an American credit card a few hours later. In fact, I STILL got a transaction declined message with that card the first time BUT the person received an SMS from their bank saying they automatically declined it - 'do you want to proceed'. When they replies 'yes', the bank sent him a message saying 'ok, we will not block this transaction again, please try the payment once more' - and finally it worked. I just hope I don't wake up tomorrow to see the application has slipped back into the unsubmitted column (who knows with this portal), but I have downloaded my AOR.
6. Good luck to us all!