XING RESTR MISUNDERSTOOD AND CREW IS 5000 FT ABOVE IT WHEN HANDED OFF TO NEXT CTLR.

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WE WERE SWITCHED OVER TO DEP CTL WHO INSTRUCTED US TO TURN R TO A 250 DEG HDG AND WHEN ABLE TO PROCEED TO THE SJC VOR AND CROSS THE VOR AT 12000 FT OR ABOVE AND CLB TO FL230. AT ABOUT THE TIME WE CROSSED THE VOR WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT ZOA. UPON CONTACT WITH ZOA WE HAD CROSSED THE VOR AND WERE AT AROUND 17000 FT. THE ZOA CTLR ASKED WHAT OUR CLRNC WAS TO CROSS THE SJC VOR. I TOLD HIM 'PROCEED TO THE VOR AND CROSS THE VOR AT ABOVE 12000 FT AND CLB TO FL230.' HE SAID THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO CROSS THE VOR AT 12000 FT AND THEN CLB TO FL230. I MUST HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE CTLR AND THOUGHT THE CLRNC WAS TO CROSS THE VOR AT ABOVE 12000 FT AND CLB TO FL230. THE ZOA CTLR THEN SAID THAT CLRNC IS SOMETIMES GIVEN; BUT NOT IN THIS CASE. THE ACTUAL PRINTED SID DOES REQUIRE YOU TO CROSS THE VOR AT 12000 FT. IF THE CTLR WANTED US TO CROSS THE VOR AT 12000 FT WHY NOT SAY FOLLOW THE PUBLISHED SID AND THEN CLB AND MAINTAIN FL230. IT SEEMS THAT WOULD HAVE MADE MORE SENSE AND WOULD HAVE CUT DOWN ON ANY MISUNDERSTANDING CONCERNING XING ALTS.