Sorry, I should have put a quote in not just the ref.
ENR1.1-19 para 11.1.6
"11.1.6 When making first contact with Approach Control, the following
apply:
...
b. Identified -- report assigned level, flight conditions, if appropriate,
and receipt of ATIS (code)."
I know it says "if appropriate" but the way I read that is if you are visual you should report so on first contact.
Funny how you can read exactly the same paragraph differently. I read 11.5.7 as if you want a VSA you must report visual (obviously because you must be visual before you can have a VSA), but I don't think it says (nor can I find it anywhere else) that if you report visual you want a VSA. A subtle difference, but just the way I read it.
GEN 3.4 says that "pilot to advise when able to conduct a visual approach" (my underline) should be instructed to "report visual". IMHO reporting visual means you can do a VSA, not necessarily that you want one. Perhaps just a difference of opinion here.
I can accept though that most pilots reporting visual want a VSA (or have been instructed to report visual).