Now a slight digression, can you be IMC and see the aerodrome 50nm away?
CS,
Why not?? If you don't meet the VMC criteria, you are not in VMC, and it is a lot more than visibility. Just because you cab see 50nm doesn't mean you make the separation from cloud criteria to qualify as being in VMC conditions.
Which brings up the point, there has been much loose talk confusing weather conditions, IMC or VMC, and IFR and VFR.
At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, but I will, a VFR aircraft must (should) maintain VMC.
For the purposes of a "visual approach" the criteria have already been cut and pasted in a previous post, that is not VMC. An IFR flight does not have to be in VMC to conduct a visual approach.
Also, make certain you understand that a visual approach is not the same thing as the visual segment (circling) if an instrument approach.
Tootle pip!!