Jim Macklin wrote:

Flight visibility is solely judged by the pilot on an IFR
approach, once the first step is passed. ATC will clear any
airplane to make any approach the pilot requests. The pilot
is not supposed to request or begin an approach if the
weather is below visibility minimums. But any pilot, Part
91,121, 125, or 135 is the only person who can judge flight
visibility and that is the controlling visibility on an IFR
approach.


You can't get a contact approach without a reported ground visibility
of at least one statute mile.