KP wrote:


There's also the possibility (more like probability) that the aircraft in
question was being treated as a pop-up in which case the controller would
assign a VFR code by default.

But he said on initial contact that he was ready to copy his IFR
clearance. That statement alone will cause the controller to look for
that aircrafts IFR strip and not start massaging the ARTS keyboard or
FDEP to enter a clearance.