CM - It is possible for an aircraft limited to VMC to fly IFR on a RAS, whilst remaining VMC as required by their personal permissions.
I lose track of the occasions where I've had to ask for a change of altitude during an airspace transition (usually Brize for some reason) because the altitude I've been asked to fly at is full of cloud and I can't remain VMC. No hassle, but it happens.
Gertrude - so you've declared a crosswind problem to a controller and been offered an alternative runway. That's my point !
G