[paulhand]

Will I lose the visa application/my place in the queue, or will they just contact me and delay the decision until I get to the right place?

Generally, the latter … but you will need to get Where you need to be within a reasonable timeframe.

 

[paulhand]

Are there factors that will make this more/less likely?

The type of visa being applied for, which wasn't specified in your original post.

For a parent visa, they will contact you.

 

[paulhand]

Thanks for the clarification! Out of curiosity which visa decision would be cancelled when applicant is in the wrong place then? Is it the more short-term ones?

For example … if you applied for an onshore visitor visa to extend your stay and then left Australia before it was granted (and it’s ‘refused’ not ‘cancelled’).