Sam Spade wrote:
Nothing ambiguous about it. He didn't clear you TO anyplace, so you
weren't IFR.

What is the AIM reference that informs a pop-up he/she is not on a
pop-up IFR clearance unless a clearance limit is stated in the pop-up
clearance for an ILS, or such?

I can't find one (but you knew that). I guess it's one of those things
that I've always taken for granted, that "cleared to" is the magic phrase
you need to hear to be IFR.

So, are you saying that after the following conversation:

Me: "Request practice ILS-16 approach"

ATC: "Cleared ILS-16 approach"

I'm IFR?