Originally Posted by
SNS3Guppy
In the US, a straight-in procedure is one aligned within 30 degrees of the runway, and beyond that only circling minimums are published.
It actually is possible to have circling only minimums when the approach is within 30° of the runway, if the descent angle between the FAF and the runway is more than 400' per nautical mile, there are only circling minimums, although you are allowed to continue for a straight in landing if all requirements are met.
http://www.terps.com/ifrr/nov97.pdf