ALT EXCURSION ON FINAL APCH TO CRP; TX. APCH CTL GAVE A MILEAGE AND ALT RESTR ON FINAL THAT WAS FORGOTTEN BY THE PLT WHEN THE VASI INDICATED HE WAS HIGH ON PROFILE.

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APCH CTLR CLRED US FOR VISUAL APCH RWY 31; BUT MAINTAIN 2000 FT UNTIL 3 MI FINAL; CONTACT TWR. WE WERE COMING FROM THE NE. TWR SAID TO TURN L TO HDG OF 180 DEGS AND JOIN A 6 MI FINAL FOR RWY 31. AT ABOUT 5 1/2 MI FROM ARPT; TWR SAID 'YOU CAN TURN INBOUND NOW FOR RWY 31.' WE DID AND WERE STRAIGHT IN ON FINAL. VASI SHOWED WELL HIGH. WHITE-OVER-WHITE; WE BEGAN A DSCNT TO GET ON GLIDE PATH AND AT ABOUT 1800 FT; TWR SAID HE NEEDED US TO CLB BACK TO 2000 FT UNTIL 3 MI FINAL. WE PROMPTLY COMPLIED WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WITHIN ABOUT 1/2 MI THE TWR CLRED US TO DSND AND LAND. THIS WAS CLRLY OUR MISTAKE; BUT KIND OF AN UNUSUAL REQUEST TO KEEP US AT 2000 FT UNTIL 3 MI FINAL -- THIS IS MUCH STEEPER THAN 3 DEGS AND THE VASI IS YELLING TO DSND. USUALLY THEY LET YOU DSND NORMALLY AND KEEP YOUR PATTERN TO WITHIN 2 MI (TO AVOID NEARBY NAVY CABINIAS PATTERN). THEY DID NOT THIS TIME DUE TO B737 TFC ON RWY 35. IT WOULD HELP IF THE TWR WOULD REPEAT THE MAINTAIN 2000 FT INSTRUCTIONS WHEN CLRING US TO TURN FINAL. IT HAD BEEN QUITE A WHILE (TIME WISE) SINCE THE PREVIOUS CTLR (APCH) HAD GIVEN US THE 'MAINTAIN 2000 FT TILL 3 MI FINAL' INSTRUCTION.