Rules may vary across regions but in Oz you may descend immediately after crossing the aid for the first time ie starting the sector entry. Protected airspace for the hold entry is considered as part of the hold the design. I thought this was an ICAO spec.?
Just a point about something mentioned in one of the replies: There is no 'of course' with respect to instrument approaches being under the control of ATC nor for lots of other aspects of aviation for that matter. In many parts of the world instrument approaches may be done in non-controlled airspace. The pilots may receive a traffic information service - but not necessarily - and must themselves co-ordinate separation.
In the times I've moved countries I've had to unlearn quite a few 'of courses' - one which was 'of course' doing approaches
sans ATC then discovering a requirement in my new country to have ATC services for the approach. And being able to fly IFR without an IR? That one was a real shock because 'of course' one must have an IR to fly IFR...
